Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2026
Arsenal defender William Saliba is in a ‘race against time’ ahead of this summer’s World Cup (Picture: Getty)
William Saliba is reportedly a doubt for France’s World Cup campaign after aggravating a pre-existing injury in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 25-year-old enjoyed another outstanding season for Arsenal both domestically and in Europe, and played the entirety of Saturday’s spectacle at Budapest’s Puskas Arena.
There had been jubilant scenes just a week-and-a-half earlier as the Gunners triumphed – after three successive runners-up finishes – in the Premier League, but it wasn’t to be for Saliba abd Co against PSG, with Luis Enrique’s men prevailing via a nail-biting penalty shootout.
And according to French publication Foot Mercato, there could be further frustration and heartache for Saliba, despite the centre-back joining the rest of his team-mates for the club’s open-top bus parade on Sunday.
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It’s claimed Saliba exacerbated a pre-existing injury during the final and is in a ‘race against time’ to prove his fitness to France head coach Didier Deschamps.
The report adds that Saliba ‘could be out for several weeks’, therefore ‘jeopardising his participation’ for this summer’s World Cup, with Les Bleus kicking off against Senegal in just over a fortnight’s time.
France return to action against Iraq six days later, before wrapping up their Group I campaign versus Norway on June 26.
Paris Saint-Germain v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League Final 2026
Saliba played the entirety of Arsenal’s loss in Hungary (Picture: Getty)
More to follow.
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