William Saliba injury news: New Arsenal statement after "specialist" back review hints at how many games defender will miss

Arsenal person confirmed that William Saliba volition miss a prolonged play owed to a backmost injury, but helium volition not acquisition surgery.

Now that the World Cup is over, the Gunners volition dilatory invited backmost the remainder of their squad for pre-season training, though not each subordinate volition get successful the champion health.

Centre-back Saliba was subbed disconnected during France's semi-final decision to Spain earlier this month, and archetypal reports had suggested that helium required country connected a backmost issue.

However, Arsenal person confirmed that the 25-year-old volition not acquisition surgery, though they revealed helium volition miss a important period, saying: "Subsequent specializer reviews connected William's instrumentality to London this week person confirmed that helium has suffered a backmost wounded which volition necessitate a play of rehabilitation.

"Extensive assessments person concluded that country is not recommended, but William should present commence a managed betterment programme.

"William's rehabilitation volition commence immediately, with continual absorption of his injury, and helium is expected to beryllium retired of enactment for an extended period. Everyone is afloat focused connected supporting William to guarantee helium is backmost to afloat fittingness arsenic soon arsenic possible."

Arsenal volition statesman their Premier League run connected August 21 against Coventry City, but they volition besides not beryllium capable to telephone upon Saliba for the Community Shield against Manchester City connected August 16.

William Saliba latest: How agelong volition Mikel Arteta defender miss?

There were fears that Saliba would beryllium forced to beryllium connected the sidelines until the caller twelvemonth had helium required surgery, though Mikel Arteta volition inactive not beryllium pleased by the defender's diagnosis.

Arsenal person not confirmed an nonstop timeline connected erstwhile the 25-year-old volition return, but fixed they person indicated the wounded is significant, it seems improbable that helium has suffered a Grade 2 injury, which would necessitate 3 to six weeks out.

Saliba is much apt to person suffered a Grade 3 injury, which could mean the centre-back is dealing with herniated discs, nervus impingements oregon adjacent a spinal fracture.

A fortunate result would truthful beryllium an lack of six to 12 weeks, but that timeframe whitethorn beryllium adjacent longer depending connected however the defender responds to specialised therapy.

The Gunners play 9 Premier League games earlier the extremity of October, including against Liverpool astatine Anfield and Aston Villa astatine Villa Park, and Saliba's lack could beryllium decisive.

Premier League rubric race: Worry for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta?

It is understandable that galore Arsenal fans are acrophobic up of 2026-27 fixed Saliba is not the lone subordinate heading into adjacent play with wounded worries.

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka notably struggled with fittingness during the World Cup, with the second starting conscionable 3 matches for England anterior to the team's third-placed playoff against France.

Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is besides reportedly dealing with issues, and with truthful galore cardinal players struggling little than a period earlier the commencement of the caller Premier League season, it is casual to spot wherefore truthful galore supporters are worried.