William Saliba returns to Arsenal training after absence since World Cup

Arsenal have received a significant boost with the return of their French defender William Saliba to team training after a long absence due to injury sustained while playing for France in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

William Saliba participated in the team's training session on Tuesday for the first time with his teammates since suffering a back injury during the match between France and Spain in the FIFA World Cup Semi-Final on July 14, which forced him to leave the pitch after 30 minutes.

The French defender has missed all of Arsenal's matches since the start of the current season, as the club preferred to follow a treatment and rehabilitation program without resorting to surgery, after assessing his medical condition. The player began individual training on the pitch last October, before now moving on to the phase of group training.

William Saliba's return comes at a crucial time for Arsenal as they prepare to face SK Slavia Prague on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League. However, his participation in the match remains uncertain, as the coaching staff led by Mikel Arteta is keen not to rush his return to competitive action, allowing him enough time to regain his physical fitness.