With Arsenal’s season finally finished, the time-honored sports tradition of revealing injuries has begun. First up, William Saliba. The French centerback played the last few weeks of the season with a back injury that might keep him out of the World Cup, per reports.
This isn’t Saliba’s first go-round with back issues. He missed the stretch run in ‘22-’23 with a back injury sustained on March 16th in a Europa League match against Sporting and didn’t return until late June with the French national
team. Without that injury, Arsenal may have been able to hold off Manchester City’s charge that season. We’ll never know. At least he was able to play through the problem this time around.
I’ll be honest: I’d prefer if none of the Arsenal players went to the World Cup. The club just played 63 matches this season. Saliba played in 50 of them. These guys need to rest. But that’s the football calendar. It is relentless.
I’m sure William Saliba will be terribly disappointed if he has to miss the tournament. That’s how they’re all wired. They want to represent their countries. They want to compete at any and every opportunity. It’s a blow for France, too. Saliba is one of the best CBs in the world. But if any country can weather losing a world-class CB, it’s France. They’ve got Ibou Konate, Dayot Upamecano, Max Lacroix, and Jules Kounde in the squad. Lenny Yoro seems the likeliest replacement should Saliba be ruled out of the squad, although Didier Deschamps could opt for a non-like-for-like replacement.
Not to be too much of a downer, but time spent recovering from an injury is not the same as time off. There’s no indication that Saliba won’t be good to go at the start of next season, but the healing and recovery process is different from resting and recharging. Granted, I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on television.
Hoping for the best for Wilo!
