William Saliba forced off early for France with back injury: Arsenal fear worst

William Saliba’s World Cup campaign ended in agony on 9 July 2026 when the Arsenal defender limped off before half-time in France’s 2-0 semi-final defeat by Spain.

What happened?

Saliba went down in the 29th minute after a routine passage of play, immediately signalling to the France bench before sitting on the turf. French journalist Julien Laurens reported that Saliba was captured on camera saying: “My back is gone, my back is gone.” He was replaced by Maxence Lacroix and walked gingerly off with two members of France’s medical staff.

The injury comes weeks after Saliba admitted he had been “gritting his teeth” through persistent back niggles since Arsenal’s gruelling Premier League and Champions League run. He missed France’s final group game against Norway to manage the issue before returning for the knockout rounds.

Why it matters for William Saliba

For Arsenal, the timing could not be worse. Saliba is Mikel Arteta’s most irreplaceable defender, forming Europe’s best centre-back duo with Gabriel. Losing him for any stretch before the new Premier League season would be a hammer blow.

The real concern is the pattern. Saliba has openly managed the issue for months, yet it flared up again on football’s biggest stage. After over 50 appearances this season, the France international looks like a player in desperate need of rest ahead of another marathon campaign.

What comes next?

France will now assess the severity of the injury. For Arsenal, the focus shifts to Saliba’s recovery timeline. Arteta will hope this is a minor aggravation rather than a serious setback as the Gunners prepare for their title defence, which kicks off in just over a month.

Saliba’s next steps hinge on scans and medical reviews. The club will monitor every update closely, knowing that even a short lay-off could reset his rhythm before the Premier League’s return.