Arsenal have been hit with devastating news after William Saliba reportedly faces a four-to-five-month absence following his injury during France's World Cup semi-final loss to Spain.
The 25-year-old defender had been operating on a modified training programme throughout the tournament in an effort to manage ongoing back pain. Despite those precautions, Saliba lasted just 30 minutes of Tuesday's 2-0 defeat before limping off the pitch.
French journalist and regular talkSPORT contributor Julien Laurens reported that Saliba could be heard saying, 'My back is gone,' as he departed the field. According to L'Equipe, the Premier League champions now fear their star centre-back will be sidelined until December and is set to undergo surgery to address his chronic back problem.
The injury occurred without any contact or immediate pressure on the player. Saliba went to ground and waved to the bench for a substitution with France already trailing 1-0 to the 2010 world champions. He was helped off the pitch by two members of the medical staff, visibly emotional as he made his exit. Manager Didier Deschamps turned to Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix to partner Dayot Upamecano in his absence.
France's night only worsened from there, as Tottenham's Pedro Porro doubled Spain's advantage in the 58th minute to seal their spot in the final.
Saliba was instrumental in Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years last season, despite carrying the back complaint through both their Champions League campaign and the league run-in. He proved equally vital for Les Bleus during their World Cup journey, though he sat out the final group stage match against Norway with qualification already secured in a bid to preserve his fitness.
The Paris-born defender recently acknowledged the extent of the issue during the early stages of the World Cup. "I've had some minor niggles for several months," Saliba said. "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 per cent either. You can't make excuses."
The potential absence until December represents a significant setback for Arsenal as they look to defend their league crown, with the former Marseille loan star now facing an extended spell of rehabilitation.