Arsenal is set to assess defender William Saliba's persistent back injury upon his return from World Cup duty. The French centre-back has been managing a back issue for weeks, which appeared to worsen during France's World Cup semi-final match against Spain, forcing him off the pitch after just 30 minutes.

Surgery is being considered as an option for the 25-year-old when he rejoins the club in London. However, an operation would likely necessitate a significant recovery period. Saliba himself acknowledged playing through "minor niggles" for months, prioritizing club commitments like the Premier League and Champions League, and the quadrennial World Cup.

He had previously missed France's final group game but returned for the knockout stages. Saliba made 50 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing to Arsenal's Premier League title win and their Champions League final run.