William Saliba is reportedly foregoing back surgery following an injury sustained during France's World Cup campaign. The Arsenal defender is said to have decided against an operation after experiencing significant back pain, according to French outlet L'Equipe.
Instead, Saliba is expected to undergo an extended period of non-surgical treatment and rest. While this approach could be viewed positively by Arsenal supporters, it may still result in the player being sidelined for several months at the beginning of the upcoming season. The defender will be monitoring his healing progress to determine his potential return timeline.
Earlier in the World Cup tournament, the 25-year-old acknowledged managing existing back issues. He had stated that he was playing through discomfort due to the importance of club competitions like the Champions League and Premier League, and the quadrennial World Cup. He admitted he was not at 100 percent but emphasized that many players were in similar situations.
Saliba was a key player for Arsenal last season, appearing in all 50 of the club's matches across all competitions as they secured the Premier League title and reached the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup. He featured in France's initial group stage games at the World Cup before being rested for the final group match after the team had secured qualification for the knockout stages. He played in France's subsequent knockout matches until he was substituted in the second half of their match against eventual winners Spain. He was later replaced by Maxence Lacroix in the starting lineup for France's third-place play-off match against England, which France lost 6-4.