Arsenal have confirmed William Saliba will be out for an extended period with a back injury.

Arsenal have confirmed that central defender William Saliba will miss an extended period of time due to a back injury sustained while on international duty at the World Cup. The France international returned to London this week, where medical staff completed a series of assessments on his condition.

The club statement indicates that Saliba will not require surgery. Instead, he will begin a managed recovery and rehabilitation program immediately. Arsenal staff are prioritizing a full return to fitness for the defender as he recovers from the issue that saw him substituted during the World Cup semi-final against Spain.

This news presents a defensive challenge for the team ahead of the new Premier League campaign. Statistics show that the win rate for the club drops significantly when Saliba does not start. The club is now focused on supporting the player through his recovery process to ensure he returns to the pitch as soon as he is ready.

In the meantime, other defensive options are preparing for the upcoming season. Ben White has returned to training following his own recovery from a knee injury sustained in May. Other players, such as Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera, are also involved in the pre-season schedule as the coaching staff looks at their options to maintain defensive stability.