Saliba will avoid surgery on his back injury but will need an extended period of rest, according to the team. "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."
Analysis:Saliba was substituted after just 30 minutes in France's World Cup semifinal loss to Spain due to the chronic back issue and had been consulting with Arsenal's medical staff before making a final decision on treatment. No precise recovery timeline has been given, with his return dependent on how he responds to treatment, though the absence is expected to be measured in months. The defender's partnership with Gabriel had been one of the best center back pairings in the league last season, making his extended absence a significant blow as Arsenal begin their title defense. Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are options to fill in during his absence. Saliba is expected to provide further clarity on his recovery timeline as treatment progresses.
