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Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba's back injury will not require surgery, representing a significant boost to the Premier League champions.
Saliba limped off during France's FIFA World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain, with early reports indicating he could miss the opening months of Arsenal's Premier League title defense. The injury bore similarities to one he sustained three years ago toward the end of the 2022/23 season.
Early indications pointed toward surgery being necessary, potentially sidelining the defender for several months. Arsenal have provided no timeline for the center-back's return but confirmed that a "period of rehabilitation" will begin following their assessment, as per The Mirror.
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A club statement read: "William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty, where he played an integral role in France reaching the semifinals of the competition. Subsequent specialist reviews on William's return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation.
"Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme.
"William's rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period. Everyone is fully focused on supporting William to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."
France manager Didier Deschamps revealed after their semifinal defeat that Saliba's discomfort had become "unbearable." He additionally confirmed that Saliba had been managing the injury since March.
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Speaking ahead of the World Cup he said: "I've had some minor niggles for several months. 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 around only once every four years, so you've got to grit your teeth. I'm not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren't at 100 percent either. You can't make excuses."
Within the opening ten fixtures of the season Arsenal will make trips to Aston Villa and Liverpool while also welcoming London rivals Chelsea as they attempt to launch a strong start. Over the last decade Manchester City are the sole team to successfully defend their Premier League crown.
In recent seasons, Saliba has established a center-back pairing with Gabriel that is considered the finest in Europe. It has provided the backbone of Arsenal's achievements as they ultimately broke their 22-year drought for a top-flight championship and reached the UEFA Champions League final.
