Arsenal were amongst the best-represented clubs at the 2026 World Cup.
Between Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and David Raya with Spain, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze with England, and William Saliba with France, the Gunners had eight players in the semi-finals alone.
It may hamper Mikel Arteta at the start of the Premier League season, with a number of his players looking in need of a long rest. While Arteta might want to ease some of his World Cup stars into the new season, his hand is forced in Saliba's case.
The 25-year-old, whose injury at the back end of the 2022/23 season coincided with Arsenal's title collapse, has been a vital cog in Arteta's side since moving to North London four years ago after three loan spells in France, and his layoff will be a significant blow.
It is expected the France star will require surgery, sidelining him for four to five months, meaning he could miss the entire first half of the season, though Charles Watts posted on X on Thursday: "On Saliba, Arsenal are waiting to assess him once he's returned. Any suggestion on timeframe is understood to be speculation at this stage because it's just too early to know. Clearly it's a worry, but it's just not known yet how long he will be out for or whether surgery is needed."
Arsenal aren't short of defensive cover, with Cristhian Mosquera likely to step up, while Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber and Ben White could all be called upon in the short term.
Arsenal have shown interest in Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa and that may be stepped up in the coming days and weeks. Konsa could fill in at centre-back or right-back, while the Gunners may look for a dedicated right-back to allow Timber to step in at centre-half.
