William Saliba aggravated his back injury during France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain.
The Arsenal defender has had an issue with his back for a long time, and he played the final few months of last season in serious pain.
Then, Saliba played regularly for France at the World Cup before collapsing in the semi-final against Spain.
“My back is gone,” the Frenchman is understood to have said, which is not ideal at all.
Now, RMC Sport have revealed that Saliba played with a ‘broken back’, a condition he has been carrying for over two months.
Yet, he was forced to play, and that has angered the supporters.
Arsenal fans, what’s your message to Mikel Arteta and Didier Deschamps for making William Saliba play with a broken back?
Arsenal fans are furious after hearing about William Saliba’s broken back
If a player has a broken back, the sensible thing to do would be to give him a break to help him recover and return to full fitness.
However, William Saliba is so important for Arsenal and France that he was forced to start almost every game to help the two sides.
That has clearly backfired, and Arsenal fans are furious that he wasn’t given time off.
One fan wrote: “I genuinely find it absurd that he was permitted to play with a BACK FRACTURE. If that was for France or Arsenal, it’s completely unacceptable.”
Another tweeted: “Shame on the medical staff of the French team. Letting him play with a back fracture and potentially ruin his professional career… Utter nonsense.”
“If this is true, it’s incomprehensible,” said another.
Another Gooner reacted by saying: “Playing on any fracture is a horrible sight, a fractured back is ridiculous. Disgraceful from Dechamps and co to be honest!”
“I’m so angry right now with everyone involved,” said another.
Arsenal need to sign a new defender now
Arsenal may go into the new season with two of their key defenders sidelined due to injuries.
Saliba is almost definitely going to be unavailable for a while, while Jurrien Timber, who pulled out of the World Cup due to injury, may not be ready either.
Arsenal still have good options, but it would be wise to bring in another top-class right-footed defender, preferably someone who can play both at right-centre-half and right-back.
Ezri Konsa has been linked with Arsenal, and he checks a lot of boxes. Whether Aston Villa will sell him to the Gunners, though, remains to be seen.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
