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William Saliba is facing a "lengthy" spell on the sidelines with a back problem that could potentially rule the Arsenal defender out of the entire World Cup with France, according to multiple reports.
The commanding center back delivered yet another dominant display as Arsenal navigated their way to a penalty shootout victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Saliba completed the full 120 minutes of a gripping encounter but, as has since come to light, was doing so while managing significant pain.
As first reported by Foot Mercato, Saliba worsened a pre-existing problem during the European showpiece and now faces an anxious wait to determine the full extent of his absence.
What Injury Does William Saliba Have?
Saliba is believed to have sustained a back injury. The original damage was reportedly sustained several weeks prior, but Arsenal's defensive cornerstone made himself available throughout the club's tense run-in. After missing back-to-back matches with an ankle complaint in early March, Saliba went on to make 15 straight appearances as the Gunners clinched their first league championship in 22 years and advanced to the Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta opted not to risk his standout defender in the inconsequential Premier League finale against Crystal Palace, but the French international was a constant presence in the high-stakes final against PSG. Not only did Saliba largely succeed in containing the defending champions' celebrated attack, he also matched them in their own territory, completing as many successful dribbles as Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola combined (two).
Yet that extraordinary performance appears to have come at a considerable price.
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Will William Saliba Miss the World Cup?
Ahead of further medical assessments, Saliba was considered "very doubtful" to participate in this summer's tournament, per ESPN. Early indications put the 25-year-old's recovery timeline at several weeks.
Due to their placement in Group I, France don't actually begin their World Cup campaign until June 16, over two weeks after Saliba's diagnosis. However, questions remain over how match-ready the defender would be upon his return, and Didier Deschamps may prefer to have a fully fit alternative available for training throughout the preparation period.
France, after all, is not lacking when it comes to defensive cover.
How France Could Replace William Saliba
Saliba's earlier ankle injury kept him out of the March international break. During that period, Deschamps called upon the former RB Leipzig partnership of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté. This pair would likely serve as France's preferred center back combination, though there is considerable depth available elsewhere within the squad.
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix could realistically earn a place in the starting lineup following another strong season in south London, while Lucas Hernández is equally comfortable playing centrally or on the left side of defense.
Juventus' adaptable defender Pierre Kalulu featured in the March squad for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia but was ultimately left out of the final 26—a call Deschamps can overturn up to 24 hours before France's opening fixture. Experienced campaigner Clément Lenglet may also be in the frame, while Loïc Badé and Benjamin Pavard have struggled to make a compelling case with their recent club showings.