Arsenal fear five-month lay-off after Saliba suffers serious back injury
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 17.07.26. | 10:14
"My back is gone, my back is gone," the defender was reportedly heard saying before being forced off the pitch during the World Cup semi-final game between France and Spain
William Saliba just can't catch a break...
Last season, he struggled with persistent, frustrating ankle problems that sidelined him for 10 games, and now he might be in for an even longer absence.
Half an hour into the first World Cup semi-final against Spain, the French international reportedly uttered "My back is gone, my back is gone" to his centre-back partner Dayot Upamecano, before being forced off.
Initially, the extent of the injury wasn't clear, but after further assessment, it doesn't look good.
According to L'Equipe, Saliba could miss between four and five months, as his condition requires surgery.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: William Saliba could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious back injury. 🤕
— MatchDay Central (@MatchDCentral) July 16, 2026
According to L’Équipe, the Arsenal defender is set for further medical tests, with surgery currently viewed as the most likely outcome.
If an operation… pic.twitter.com/InP6pk9e7e
He has reportedly been dealing with a chronic back problem for some time now, but deliberately delayed the potential surgical procedure to avoid missing France's World Cup campaign. He reportedly played through the pain, relied on painkilling injections and trained under a specially tailored regime. In the end, it came back to haunt him.
Saliba's situation is similar to that of former Les Bleus and Barcelona central defender, Samuel Umtiti, who chose to postpone treatment on his knee to play in the 2018 World Cup. He won the trophy with France, but paid the high price for his decision.
Umtiti never fully recovered and never regained his best form. He soon lost his place as a regular starter at Camp Nou and, following short spells with Lecce and Lille, retired from football at the age of only 32.
And even though that would be the worst-case scenario for Saliba, there is growing concern at the Emirates Stadium.
His absence will be a massive blow for Mikel Arteta, given that the 25-year-old Frenchman formed arguably the best centre-back partnership in the world alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
Now, Cristhian Mosquera is expected to fill in the void in Arsenal's defence and show why the North London club bought him from Valencia last year for €15 million. The Spaniard has already offered glimpses of his quality, but next season, with Saliba's injury, could provide the perfect platform for him to fast-track his development and prove he belongs at the highest level.