William Saliba Faces Setback with Back Surgery

William Saliba faces a brutal setback.

The Arsenal defender is set to undergo back surgery, a procedure that will rule him out for an estimated four to five months, according to reports from L'Équipe and The Athletic.

The issue came to a head in the semi-final against Spain, where Saliba was forced off with back problems. It was not an isolated incident or a minor twinge. French journalist Julien Laurens reported that, during the injury episode, Saliba admitted his back was “completely done for” and that he had already been playing under heavy painkillers.

The decision for surgery now ends any hope of a quick fix. The recovery timeline means Arsenal are unlikely to see him in competitive action again before 2027, a huge blow for a side built on his authority and composure at the heart of defence.

For club and country, one of the most reliable centre-backs in Europe suddenly disappears from the picture. The question now is not just how Arsenal cope without him, but what version of Saliba returns on the other side of this operation.