Saliba 'faces FIVE MONTHS on sidelines' in crushing Arsenal injury blow

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William Saliba is facing five months on the sidelines which will leave him absent for the opening months of Arsenal's

Premier League

title defence.

The reports come as a huge blow to the Gunners, who have made the Frenchman one of the pillars of their recent success. Saliba has become a key figure for club and country and it was with Les Bleus that his injury, which has been bothering him for months, finally reared its head.

He collapsed to the pitch in agony in the first half of

France

‘s semi-final exit to

Spain

on Tuesday and had to come off after only half an hour.

L’Equipe

claims that the

Arsenal

man could be sidelined for between “four to five months” after having surgery, which will mean he misses the first three months for the Gunners.

Saliba is said to have told defensive partner Dayot Upamecano: “I can’t take it any more, my back is finished," when he went down in the World Cup clash.

The 25-year-old confessed he had been dealing with the issue for some time before the tournament began, but has not spoken since hobbling off on Tuesday.

Speaking before the World Cup he said: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months. I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the

Champions League

and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well. The World Cup comes around only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either. You can’t make excuses.”

Mikel Arteta

has built his success in north London on one of Europe's best defences, with Saliba and Gabriel seen as the best centre-half duo in the business. In his absence Arsenal will need to look to other players with

Ben White

and Jurrien Timber both capable of deputising.

Arsenal begin their season at home to Coventry and, inside the first ten games will travel to

Aston Villa

and

Liverpool

whilst they also host London rivals

Chelsea

.

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