At a Glance:
Arsenal lost the Champions League final on penalties on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s players are now set to jet off to North America for the World Cup.
One player’s participation in the tournament is in jeopardy.
Arsenal’s season is now over, and several of Mikel Arteta’s players are subsequently set to jet off to North America to take part in the 2026 World Cup.
The Gunners were crowned Premier League champions at the end of this gruelling season, and enjoyed a huge trophy parade that shut down North London on Sunday afternoon. While Arteta’s side fell short in the Champions League, devastatingly losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the final on penalties, it was ultimately a hugely successful and uplifting season for Arsenal.
They’ll do it all over again in just a few months’ time, although the small matter of the World Cup comes first. 16 Arsenal players will take part in the tournament – one of these stars’ participation in the competition is now said to be in jeopardy.
Crowned in red. pic.twitter.com/Bz8oknLnhE
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 1, 2026
William Saliba could be ‘sidelined for weeks’ ahead of World Cup
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been granted additional rest after the Champions League final, before joining up with the England national team in Florida. This protocol is expected to be implemented across the board, with all of Arsenal’s World Cup players enjoying a few days off to recalibrate before travelling across the pond to meet their respective countries.
However, William Saliba’s arrival at the France camp in the US might be stalled. According to journalist Santi Aouna, the French defender could be ‘sidelined for several weeks’.
🚨EXCL: 🔴⚪️🇫🇷 #PL |
❗️William Saliba pourrait être absent plusieurs semaines.
🩺 Déjà diminué avant la rencontre face au PSG, William Saliba a aggravé sa blessure durant le match.
🏥 Le français souffre toujours et son état suscite une réelle inquiétude au sein de la FFF à… pic.twitter.com/Cy0gHDTMWI
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) June 1, 2026
It’s been well documented that Saliba has been dealing with a back injury during the run-in, and this may now be catching up with him. The Gunners pushed the centre-back through this fitness issue, using him in almost every minute over the last few months.
Now, Aouna reports that his injury worsened during the Champions League final and that the player is still in pain. The French Football Federation are concerned about Saliba’s condition, given the World Cup starts in just ten days.
France play their first match of the tournament in New Jersey against Senegal on June 16th.
Arsenal won’t want William Saliba to be risked at the World Cup
All the reporting suggests that Saliba’s back issue has been going on for some time. Aouna’s latest report essentially confirms this, and given that the 25-year-old has had problems with this area of his body in the past, it’s certainly a concern for Arsenal.
From a purely selfish point of view, the Gunners won’t want Saliba to go to the World Cup. If there’s even a minor risk of him aggravating his back injury, then they’d rather see him rest up over the summer and return to North London in good shape.
Worth the wait. pic.twitter.com/QfETpbCjDI
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 31, 2026
That said, the player will be desperate to represent his country at the World Cup, after hardly featuring for Les Blues back in 2022. Didier Deschamps’ team have a genuine chance of winning the competition, and thus, Saliba will of course want to be involved.
The most likely scenario seems to be that he sits out the first two games or so before being brought in for challenging knockout games. Arsenal will just have to hope he’s monitored closely from a medical perspective.