World Cup blow for Arsenal star after Champions League final injury

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Arsenal defender William Saliba could miss the upcoming World Cup after aggravating an injury during Saturday’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

The 25-year-old played the full 120 minutes of the showpiece final in Budapest as Mikel Arteta’s side fell to a penalty shootout defeat following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. Gabriel Magalhaes hit the decisive spot-kick over the bar as the Gunners missed out on European glory.

Injury concerns mount

According to Foot Mercato, Saliba was playing with a minor injury which worsened during the defeat at the Puskas Arena. The setback could threaten his participation at the World Cup in North America, which begins on Thursday, June 11.

Saliba has established himself as France’s first-choice centre-back alongside Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. However, manager Didier Deschamps may need to reconstruct his central defensive partnership, at least for the tournament’s opening stages.

France kick off their World Cup campaign on Tuesday, June 16 against Senegal, before facing Iraq on Monday, June 22 and Norway on Friday, June 26 in their group stage fixtures.

France prepare alternatives

The report suggests Saliba could be sidelined for ‘several weeks’ with his condition described as a ‘concern’ for the France Football Federation. Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix are on standby to step in should the Arsenal defender be ruled out.

The potential absence would be a significant blow for both Saliba and France, coming after what has been a remarkable season for the defender. He played a crucial role as Arsenal claimed their first Premier League title since 2004, beating Manchester City to top spot after a thrilling campaign.

Despite the disappointment of losing the Champions League final on penalties – with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel also missing from the spot – Arsenal celebrated their Premier League triumph with an open-top bus parade on Sunday.

The club will be monitoring Saliba’s recovery closely as they prepare for next season, while the defender himself will be desperate to prove his fitness ahead of France’s World Cup campaign. His partnership with Upamecano has been central to France’s defensive solidity, making his potential absence a major headache for Deschamps.