Arsenal star William Saliba could be facing a devastating heartbreak ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
According to ESPN, Saliba is very doubtful for the World Cup after injuring his back a few weeks ago.
The French international will undergo scans on Monday to discover the seriousness of his injury but the fear is that he will need a lengthy time to rest and for treatment, and will ultimately miss the World Cup.
It would represent a crushing setback for both Arsenal and France.
On a personal level, the emotional blow could be enormous for Saliba, who had been preparing to represent his country on football’s grandest stage.
France are widely viewed as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, with Saliba expected to play a crucial role at the heart of the defence.
The 25-year-old enjoyed another exceptional campaign last season after forming a colossal defensive partnership alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
Although Gabriel often attracted much of the spotlight, the £27 million-rated centre-back quietly delivered yet another world-class season in North London.
If he is ultimately ruled out of the tournament, France would lose one of their most confident and in-form players.
Saliba helped guide Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years and came agonisingly close to lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy before defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Back injuries are notoriously frustrating and unpredictable.
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt was expected to make a swift return from a back injury in December 2025.
Unfortunately, the Dutch defender failed to make progress and eventually underwent surgery, ruling him out of the World Cup.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will now desperately hope Saliba’s injury does not follow a similarly worrying path.
Any long-term absence for Saliba could become a huge problem for Arsenal’s Premier League title defence next season.
Stats from Fotmob.com