William Saliba Set for Back Surgery, Out for Months

Arsenal have been dealt a brutal blow: William Saliba is set for back surgery and is expected to be out for four to five months, according to reports from L'Équipe and The Athletic.

The defender’s tournament unravelled in the semi-final against Spain, when he was forced off with back problems. What initially looked like a precaution has now turned into a long-term setback.

French journalist Julien Laurens reported that Saliba, in the midst of the pain, told those around him that his back was “completely done for”.

Before that, he had allegedly been playing through the issue with the help of strong painkillers, pushing his body to stay on the pitch.

The cost of that courage is now clear. A procedure on his back will rule him out for the rest of the calendar year, with the recovery timeline pointing to a return only in early 2027 for Arsenal.

For a player who has become central to Mikel Arteta’s plans, it leaves a gaping hole in the heart of the Gunners’ defence and a lingering question: how do Arsenal cope without their cornerstone for almost half a season?