William Saliba is considering surgery on a fractured back and could face up to five months on the sidelines, potentially ruling him out until December 2026, after playing through the injury during the entire World Cup.
France manager Didier Deschamps revealed Saliba had been playing through pain since March, taking painkillers and receiving special treatment throughout the tournament. The problem worsened when he was forced off after 30 minutes of France's semi-final defeat by Spain. France face England in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
Arsenal will assess the injury when Saliba returns from international duty, with surgery among the options being weighed. The defender made 50 appearances last season as the club won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.