Arsenal defender William Saliba is facing an anxious wait over his World Cup involvement after reportedly aggravating an existing injury during the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The French centre-back completed all 120 minutes in Budapest as Arsenal fell short on penalties in their bid to win Europe’s biggest club prize for the first time.
However, the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat may not be the end of Saliba’s concerns this summer.
According to reports in France, the 25-year-old entered the final carrying a minor issue and saw the problem worsen during the match against PSG.
Saliba was still present during Arsenal’s celebrations following their Premier League triumph and joined his teammates for the club’s open-top bus parade, but concerns have now emerged over his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
French sources claim the defender could be sidelined for several weeks, putting his place in Didier Deschamps’ plans in doubt.
Those reports have it that Saliba remains in pain and that his condition is causing genuine concern within the French Football Federation.
France begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal in just over two weeks, leaving little time for the Arsenal defender to recover if the injury proves more serious than initially feared.
The timing could hardly be worse for Saliba, who has established himself as one of the first names on Deschamps’ team sheet.
Alongside Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano, the Arsenal star has formed a key part of France’s preferred central defensive partnership over the last two years.
Another strong season in North London appeared to have cemented his status heading into the tournament.
Saliba was once again a cornerstone of Arsenal’s success as Mikel Arteta’s side ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.
His consistency, composure and leadership helped Arsenal boast one of the strongest defensive records in Europe throughout the campaign.
Should he miss part of the tournament, it would represent a significant blow for France’s hopes of lifting the trophy.
For Arsenal supporters, there will also be concern over whether the injury could impact his preparations for next season.
At this stage, no official diagnosis or recovery timeline has been confirmed.
But with the World Cup fast approaching, Saliba now finds himself in a race against time to prove his fitness and avoid missing one of the biggest tournaments of his career.