Arsenal have confirmed that central defender William Saliba faces an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a serious back injury.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The 25-year-old was forced off in the 30th minute of France's 2-0 World Cup semi-final defeat against Spain in Dallas after collapsing to the turf.
According to an official club statement, specialist scans in London confirmed the injury, though medical staff determined surgery will not be required.
"William has suffered a back injury requiring rehabilitation. Detailed assessments concluded surgery is not recommended," Arsenal confirmed in their statement.
Based on reports from RMC Sport, the former Marseille defender played throughout the tournament in the United States using painkilling injections for a stress fracture.
Medical assessments indicate Saliba originally sustained the injury during Premier League action two months prior to the World Cup, with French outlet L'Équipe reporting his recovery will take several months.