William Saliba Injury Update: Arsenal Defender Facing Extended Spell on Sidelines
Arsenal have been dealt a major setback with confirmation that William Saliba is set to miss at least the next three to four weeks after suffering an ankle injury in the defeat to Liverpool. According to reports from French outlet L’Équipe, the centre-back has already been ruled out of the current international break and is considered “unlikely” to feature for France during their October fixtures.
For Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad, the timing could hardly be worse. The Gunners are preparing for a congested run of seven matches across three competitions — the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup. Among the critical clashes during this period are an away trip to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League on September 16, 2025, a highly anticipated home showdown with Manchester City on September 21, 2025, and a tricky visit to Newcastle United on September 28, 2025.
Saliba’s injury occurred in frustrating circumstances. He lasted fewer than five minutes against Liverpool before being substituted. After the game, Arteta revealed that the Frenchman had actually sustained the problem during the warm-up but insisted on starting regardless.
“We lost Martin [Ødegaard], Kai [Havertz], then Bukayo [Saka]. In the warm-up, we also lost Saliba,” Arteta explained, underlining the growing injury crisis within his squad.
Arsenal are already stretched thin with fitness concerns. Christian Nørgaard and Ben White are also sidelined, though both players are expected to return in time for the club’s upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest. Martin Ødegaard is another possible returnee, providing some hope for Arteta. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus remains a long-term absentee, having been ruled out with a knee injury since January.
Saliba’s absence will undoubtedly be felt. Since joining Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in 2019 for £27 million, the defender has grown into one of the club’s most reliable players. After three loan spells in France, he established himself as a cornerstone of Arteta’s defense and played every minute of France’s Euro 2024 campaign, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s elite defenders.
With crucial fixtures ahead, Arsenal will need to rely on their defensive depth and resilience as they navigate a challenging stretch without one of their most important players.
