Arsenal has announced that William Saliba will not need back surgery, but he will be sidelined for a significant period.
The centre-back left the field early during France‘s semifinal loss to Spain due to a back injury, which also caused him to miss their third-place match against England.
Saliba had been dealing with the back issue leading up to the World Cup, prompting worries about his availability for the tournament. Nonetheless, he managed to start four matches on France’s journey to the semifinals before his injury flared up.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Arsenal said, “Comprehensive evaluations have determined that surgery is not necessary, but William is set to begin a structured recovery program.”
Arsenal added, “William’s rehab will start immediately, with ongoing management of his injury. He is anticipated to be unavailable for an extended timeframe.”
This injury is a significant setback for Arsenal, as Saliba played a crucial role in their triumph in the Premier League and their run to the Champions League final last season, making 50 appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defense on August 22 against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.