William Saliba
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Arsenal’s defensive rock William Saliba suffered a concerning ankle injury during the warm-up before their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on August 31, 2025.
The 24-year-old centre-back attempted to play through the pain but lasted only five minutes before being substituted for summer signing Cristhian Mosquera.
Mikel Arteta confirmed post-match that Saliba twisted his ankle in the warm-up, tried to continue, but couldn’t cope after his first actions on the pitch.
Saliba collided with Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike early in the game, immediately showing discomfort and signalling to the bench for treatment before limping off.
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William Saliba - France
Arteta expressed worry, stating, “If he cannot play a game of this stature, something is wrong,” highlighting the severity of the injury.
The France international was replaced in the national team squad by Inter’s Benjamin Pavard, confirming he’ll miss the next two upcoming international fixtures. However there is hope his issue isn’t too serious.
Scans will determine the injury’s extent, with a Grade 1 sprain potentially allowing a return by mid-September, possibly for Arsenal’s match against Nottingham Forest.
However, a Grade 2 or 3 sprain could sideline Saliba until early October, a significant blow for Arsenal’s title aspirations.
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Arsenal’s medical staff will monitor swelling over the international break to establish a precise recovery timeline for the influential defender.
The Gunners were already without Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, with Martin Odegaard only fit for the bench, compounding Arteta’s injury woes.
Saliba’s early exit prompted Arsenal to finalize a loan deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié, with a permanent transfer planned for next summer.
Fans on X expressed concern, with one post noting, “Saliba’s injury looks bad, only lasted 5 mins, huge loss for Arsenal.”
Despite the setback, Saliba was seen walking without a boot and sat on the bench post-injury, offering some hope.
Arsenal’s depth will be tested, but Mosquera’s solid debut provides optimism as the Gunners navigate this challenging period.
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