William Saliba
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major setback on Sunday as star defender William Saliba was forced off just five minutes into their showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.
The French centre-back, regarded as one of the finest defenders in world football, appeared to injure his lower left leg following an aerial challenge with Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike. Saliba slumped to the ground clutching his leg in visible pain before being replaced by summer signing Cristhian Mosquera.
Replays suggested Ekitike may have clipped the outside of Saliba’s boot, though slow-motion footage offered no conclusive evidence of serious contact. The 24-year-old received treatment on the pitch but was unable to continue, heading straight down the tunnel to be assessed by Arsenal’s medical staff.
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The injury is a fresh concern for manager Mikel Arteta, who is already without Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Ben White and Christian Norgaard due to injuries, while captain Martin Odegaard was only deemed fit enough for the bench. Losing Saliba, integral to Arsenal’s defensive stability since his breakthrough in 2022 represents a particularly damaging blow.
William Saliba against Hugo Ekitike
William Saliba suffered an early injury against Liverpool on Sunday (Image credit: Getty Images)
Statistical data underlines his importance: according to Opta, Arsenal win 74% of league matches with Saliba in the starting XI, compared with just 45% without him. Defensively, the team concedes 0.8 goals per game when he plays, rising to 1.6 in his absence. His absence in the latter stages of the 2022/23 season was widely seen as a key factor in Arsenal’s faltering title charge.
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The injury also handed Mosquera an early and daunting test against Liverpool’s potent attack, placing immediate pressure on the 21-year-old defender.
Saliba’s injury record is relatively modest, though he did miss two months of the 2022/23 campaign with a back issue and a short spell last season with a hamstring complaint. Reports from the touchline suggested this latest knock may be an ankle or foot problem, raising fears of a lengthy lay-off.
Arteta is expected to provide an update in his post-match press conference, but with a packed schedule ahead including Champions League fixtures after the international break, Arsenal fans face an anxious wait to discover the severity of what could prove a decisive injury blow in the title race.
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