Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dealt a major setback on Sunday after William Saliba sustained an ankle injury in the warm-up ahead of their clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
The French defender attempted to start the game but lasted just five minutes before being substituted, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side to reshuffle defensively in a high-stakes encounter.
Arteta confirmed in his post-match press conference that Saliba twisted his ankle during pre-match preparations.
“He twisted his ankle during the warm-up,” Arteta explained. “He came in and said he believed he could carry on and play, but you could see after the first two actions that he couldn’t cope, and we had to get him out. Thank God we had Mosquera, we put him in for the first time in the Premier League, his debut at Anfield. I think he was really, really good.”
READ MORE: Arsenal dealt huge blow as William Saliba suffers early injury in Liverpool clash
The 24-year-old centre-back was forced off after an aerial challenge with Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike worsened the injury. He was replaced by 21-year-old Cristhian Mosquera, who made his league debut under daunting circumstances.
William Saliba against Hugo Ekitike
William Saliba suffered an early injury against Liverpool on Sunday (Image credit: Getty Images)
Saliba, a cornerstone of Arsenal’s backline since 2022, was visibly in discomfort as he clutched his left leg before heading straight down the tunnel. Early assessments suggest an ankle or foot issue, sparking fears of a lengthy absence. His importance to Arsenal is underlined by Opta data showing the Gunners concede just 0.8 goals per game with him in the side, compared to 1.6 without him. Their win rate also falls from 74% to 45% in his absence.
The setback comes at a difficult time for Arteta, with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz already sidelined through hamstring problems, while captain Martin Odegaard was only fit enough for a second-half cameo.
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Reflecting on the growing injury list, Arteta admitted: “We lost Martin, we lost Kai, then we lost Bukayo the week before. In the warm-up you lose William. It impacts you, but I’m really proud of the players and how they reacted. The margin was almost zero.”
Arsenal’s evening ended in further frustration as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Anfield. The game was decided by a moment of brilliance from Dominik Szoboszlai, who, deputising at right-back, struck a sensational long-range free-kick into the top corner—one of the standout goals of the season so far.
The Gunners now face an anxious wait for updates on Saliba’s condition, with his potential absence looming large over their upcoming fixtures in both the Premier League and Champions League.
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