William Saliba's Injury Worries Arsenal Ahead of World Cup

Arsenal’s worst World Cup fear flickered into life in Arlington, Texas, as William Saliba limped out of France’s semi-final against Spain with a worrying back problem.

The centre-back, a cornerstone for club and country over the past two seasons, went down on the half-hour while in possession, immediately clutching his lower back. There was no heavy challenge, no dramatic collision – just a grimace, a pause, and then the unmistakable body language of a player who knew something was wrong.

France were already trailing 1-0 when the alarm bells rang. Mikel Oyarzabal had given the European champions the lead from the penalty spot, punishing a clumsy moment from Lucas Digne. The Paris Saint-Germain left-back misjudged a high ball and, in trying to recover, kicked through Lamine Yamal in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, Oyarzabal did the rest, and Les Bleus were chasing the game.

Then came the bigger concern.

Saliba tried to carry on at first, but his movement tightened. Didier Deschamps and his staff watched closely as the defender tested himself, stretching, shifting his weight, attempting a few short sprints. It did not convince anyone.

On the touchline, Maxence Lacroix was told to warm up with urgency. The Wolfsburg defender, who has attracted strong interest from Chelsea, went through a rapid set of sprints and stretches as the French bench prepared for a change they clearly did not want to make.

After a brief medical assessment, the decision was taken: Saliba could not continue for the full 90. His night was over before half-time, replaced by Crystal Palace’s Lacroix, and with it came a sharp intake of breath from Arsenal supporters watching on.

This was not a problem out of nowhere. Saliba had already admitted he had been managing a back issue for several months, grinding through the pain during a gruelling campaign with Arsenal in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” the 25-year-old said ahead of France’s group game against Iraq, explaining how he had pushed himself through the run-in. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”

Until this semi-final, that gamble had held. He had navigated the tournament without a major setback, anchoring France’s defence and reinforcing his status as one of the most complete centre-backs in the game.

In Texas, the bill for all that “gritting” may finally have arrived.

For Deschamps, it was an untimely disruption in a high-stakes tie. For Arsenal, watching from a distance, it was something more serious: a potential cloud over the start of their season, hanging over the player they can least afford to lose.