Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will not require surgery on his back injury and will instead begin a managed recovery programme, though the club says he faces an extended period on the sidelines.
The update follows earlier speculation that the defender was considering an operation after sustaining the problem while on World Cup duty with France. Arsenal stated that a tailored rehabilitation plan will be used to treat the injury, ruling out surgical intervention. The defender is expected to be absent for several months, according to reports in Belgium and Norway.
Saliba was forced off after 30 minutes of France's semi-final defeat by Spain, having played a central role in the team's run to that stage. The club ruled the defender out for an extended period following their assessment upon his return from international duty.