According to L’Equipe, William Saliba has opted against surgery on his back injury following consultations with Arsenal’s medical staff.
That’s the good news.
The less encouraging update is that the France international still faces a significant spell on the sidelines. The current plan is for the injury to settle through a period of rest before he begins a lengthy rehabilitation programme.
Saliba has been managing the problem since the closing weeks of last season, playing through the pain as Arsenal chased the Premier League title before joining up with France for the World Cup. There had been suggestions before the tournament that he might withdraw from Didier Deschamps’ squad, but with Les Bleus among the favourites, it’s understandable he chose to keep going until his body finally said enough.
That moment came in the semi-final defeat to Spain. Saliba lasted only 30 minutes before signalling to the bench that he could no longer continue, and he subsequently sat out France’s third-place play-off against England.
In the aftermath, unconfirmed reports in France claimed the 25-year-old had been playing with a fractured back, while others suggested he could be sidelined for four to five months. Arsenal have yet to comment publicly on the nature of the injury or offer any indication of a likely return date.
The uncertainty has inevitably fuelled speculation over whether the Gunners will enter the market for another central defender before the transfer window closes. Free agent John Stones, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Real Sociedad youngster Jon Martin have all been linked in recent weeks.
The alternative, of course, would be to strengthen elsewhere across the back line. Bringing in another full-back would allow Mikel Arteta to move either Ben White or Jurrien Timber into central defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the event Cristhian Mosquera wasn’t available.
With White, Timber and Riccardo Calafiori all enduring injury-disrupted campaigns last season, there is a strong argument that Arsenal need another defensive body regardless of Saliba’s prognosis.
Yet another plate for Berta to spin!