Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will be sidelined for an "extended period" after a back injury he carried into the World Cup with France worsened, though a specialist assessment concluded that surgery is not required and a managed recovery programme will begin instead. The centre-back had been managing the issue for several weeks before being forced off just 30 minutes into France's semi-final defeat by Spain, and subsequently sat out the bronze-medal match against England, leaving Arsenal facing an injury blow to a key defender ahead of their Premier League title defence.

The 25-year-old made 50 appearances for Arsenal last season, with his partnership alongside Gabriel central to the club ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final. Saliba had said during the tournament that he had been "gritting my teeth" through niggles for months given the demands of the Champions League, Premier League and World Cup. His absence now casts doubt over his availability for Arsenal's Community Shield meeting with Manchester City on 16 August and the Premier League opener against promoted Coventry City five days later.