Arsenal recently saw Saliba play 50 times across all competitions for the club, including a gruelling 120 minutes during their Champions League final defeat. Saliba has openly admitted to struggling with a persistent back issue.
Speaking during the World Cup group stage, Saliba confessed: "I've had some minor niggles for several months. I've been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes around only once every four years, so you've got to grit your teeth. I'm not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren't at 100 per cent either. You can't make excuses."