William Saliba was forced off the pitch during France's World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday, and what he said as he stopped playing is a major red flag for Arsenal fans. Julien Laurens reports Saliba was repeatedly saying, "my back is gone, my back is gone," a worrying sign for a player who's been battling this injury all season. It's clear this isn't some minor tweak; this is a full-blown crisis that hit during the highest stakes game of the year.
Injury Flare-Up Hits Hard
This isn't Saliba's first rodeo with back pain, not even close. He's been dealing with this injury throughout the World Cup and for most of 2026, even missing multiple training sessions with France just to suit up for matches. But getting pulled in the first half-hour of a World Cup semi-final, unable to continue, that tells you everything. It's a massive issue. While France still has the third-place play-off on Saturday, it's pretty clear Saliba shouldn't be involved. He really needs to pull out of the camp completely to focus on getting healthy.What This Means for Arsenal's Campaign
The ripple effects of this injury are already stacking up. Football insider HandofArsenal and others are floating the idea that Saliba might need some kind of medical procedure to fully heal. If that happens, it could put the start of Arsenal's 2026/27 campaign in serious jeopardy. The Gunners are set to play Manchester City in the Community Shield in just over a month, and it's looking like Saliba won't be on the field for that crucial opener. Remember, this isn't new territory; he missed about three months in 2022/23 with a similar back problem, his longest absence since joining the club. Arsenal absolutely relies on him, as he made 50 appearances this season while the Gunners won the Premier League and reached both the Champions League and League Cup finals. They've run into major difficulties without him before. It's obvious this isn't just pain he can play through; it's a big issue that needs a real fix.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.