France’s William Saliba was forced off injured during the World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain.
Arsenal
William Saliba was forced off early in France’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain, leaving fans and staff worried about his fitness. As the news broke, the injury quickly raised concerns among Arsenal fans, who now await updates ahead of pre-season training.
William Saliba Injury Scare Against Spain
William Saliba pulled up early in the first half against Spain, and it was a concerning moment for the Gunners. As reported by The Independent, he went down without any contact at all. In visible pain, he stretched his leg while French medical staff treated him before going off.
Former England forward Chris Sutton was blunt in his assessment on BBC Radio 5 Live. As reported by The Independent, he said, “That may be the end to William Saliba’s World Cup.” He further added, “He wasn’t under great pressure. He turned around and sat on the deck.”
Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix came on to replace him. It was only his second game of the tournament. France were already behind at that point, after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal then scored the penalty with ease.
For Arsenal fans, this will feel painfully familiar. Back issues have interrupted his rhythm for over a year now. Every small twinge naturally raises concern before a long football calendar begins.
A Costly Night for France
Spain doubled their lead after the break through Pedro Porro. That 2-0 defeat ended France’s bid for consecutive World Cup finals. So, Didier Deschamps’ side now face Saturday’s third-place game instead of a place in the final.
Meanwhile, William Saliba had featured in almost every minute this tournament, sitting out only the Norway win once qualification was secured. That heavy workload naturally raises questions about how much more his body can take before the new season starts.
From a football point of view, this loss is harder to take given how solid France had looked in defence for most of the tournament. Without their first-choice centre-back leading the back line, gaps opened up, and Spain made the most of them.
It is still not clear if he will feature in the third-place game. So, France’s medical staff will likely check on him closely over the next few days, and every sign points toward caution over risk. For now, both club and country simply have to wait for clearer answers.
William Saliba Injury Concerns Before Arsenal Return
Back in London, the bigger worry is what this means for pre-season plans. William Saliba struggled with fitness issues through the 2025/26 season, and he sat out twelve games across club and country.
William Saliba for Arsenal in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Defensive Contributions
Premier League 31 1 0 192
FA Cup 2 0 0 3
EFL Cup 5 0 1 25
UCL 12 0 0 81
As reported by GOAL, he has been managing a long-term back problem for months now. He even admitted he played through the pain during last season’s Premier League run-in. So, surgery has not been ruled out if the latest scan brings fresh bad news.
As reported byYahoo Sports, staff are already waiting on an update once he returns from international duty, and nothing will be rushed. Pre-season leads into a Manchester City test in the Community Shield on 16 August, with Coventry’s visit to the Emirates following in the Premier League opener less than a week later.
Realistically, the club cannot afford another injury-hit season from one of their best defenders. If the coming scans show anything serious, the depth at centre-back will be tested sooner than anyone would like. Overall, patience now looks like the smartest path forward.
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