William Saliba Faces Back Surgery: Major Setback for Arsenal and France

William Saliba’s season has been ripped apart. The Arsenal defender is set to undergo back surgery, according to reports from L’Équipe and The Athletic, in a development that will sideline one of Europe’s outstanding centre-backs for months.

The alarm first rang in the semi-final against Spain, when 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 told those around him that his back was “completely done for”, having already been playing through the tournament on strong painkillers.

The decision for surgery now underlines the severity. The procedure is expected to keep him out for around four to five months. For Arsenal, that almost certainly wipes him out for the remainder of the calendar year, with a realistic return not anticipated until 2027.

For Mikel Arteta, it is a brutal setback. Saliba has been the cornerstone of Arsenal’s defensive structure, the calm at the heart of a high-line team that lives on the edge. For France, it is the loss of a defender entering his peak, whose authority and athleticism had become a key part of Didier Deschamps’ plans.

The operation is designed to fix the problem for the long term. The price, though, is immediate and heavy: months without one of the most important players in north London and one of the most reliable in the French back line.

Arsenal now face the start of 2027 waiting for their defensive leader to return, and hoping that when he does, the back that has carried so much expectation will finally be free of pain.