Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will not require surgery for his back injury, but the France international faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with a managed rehabilitation programme set to begin immediately.

The centre-back was forced off in the 30th minute of France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final defeat to Spain, and specialist assessments carried out after his return to London have confirmed the severity of the problem.

"William Saliba has returned to us from World Cup duty, where he played an integral role in France reaching the semi-finals of the competition. Subsequent specialist reviews on William's return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation. Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme. William's rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period. Everyone is fully focused on supporting William to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."

White's return offers some relief

Arsenal did receive some positive news, however, as Ben White has resumed pre-season training after recovering from the knee injury he sustained in May. The England international was hurt during the Gunners' 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham, a result that came in Arsenal's third-from-last match of the 2025/26 season, and the injury ruled him out of the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Defensive depth being assessed

Jurrien Timber continues to rehabilitate from the groin injury that prevented him from featuring at the FIFA World Cup 2026, though the defender has expressed hope of returning soon.

Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori are both back in pre-season and are capable of covering at centre-back should manager Mikel Arteta need them. Piero Hincapie is expected to rejoin training within the next week following Ecuador's elimination at the Round of 32, while Gabriel Magalhaes — Saliba's regular defensive partner — is also anticipated to link up with the squad in the near future.