Fresh injury update emerges on Arsenal star William Saliba, could return in 2026
Arsenal have received a major update on the fitness of star defender William Saliba.
According to transfer reporter Fabrice Hawkins, Saliba is currently recovering from a back fracture and could be back in action as early as December.
— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) September 24, 2026
The 25-year-old suffered the injury at the World Cup after playing through the pain for much of last season.
Saliba avoided the need for surgery but has been forced to spend a significant period on the sidelines as he focuses on his recovery.
Timely Saliba return could be a huge for Arsenal
The Gunners strengthened their defence this summer by signing Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for a fee of around ÂŁ51 million.
The 28-year-old has started in the last three Premier League games and looked impressive at the back but a shocking 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion highlighted just how difficult it could be to replace Saliba.
Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly want his star defender back as soon as possible, but the Arsenal manager must also ensure that his recovery is not rushed.
Back injuries can be particularly difficult to manage, especially when a player returns before they are fully ready.
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined since last November and was eventually forced to undergo surgery in May.
The priority should be to ensure that he makes a full recovery rather than risking a setback by returning too soon.
Saliba remains one of the most important players in Arteta’s squad, and the Premier League champions must take every possible precaution to prevent the injury from resurfacing.
Stats from Fotmob.com
The post Fresh injury update emerges on Arsenal star William Saliba, could return in 2026 first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.