Arsenal's William Saliba out for extended period with back injury
Arsenal confirmed that defender William Saliba will miss an extended period after suffering a back injury while playing for France at the World Cup, where he was forced off in the semi-final. The Premier League champions said the problem does not require surgery, but gave no specific timeline for the centre-back's return.
Why it matters
Losing a first-choice centre-back for an unspecified stretch is a significant blow to Arsenal's title defence as the new season approaches.
Sources
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Part of the July 23, 2026 brief.