Arsenal have been defensively impressive this season as both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been as a solid as a rock as the Gunners sit second in the league same points with first position Tottenham.
In a setback for both the Arsenal squad and the French national team, William Saliba has withdrawn from France’s upcoming matches due to a persistent toe injury. This development follows the young defender’s standout performance in Arsenal’s recent 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
Saliba’s exceptional display in the challenging encounter with Manchester City was underscored by his ability to limit the Premier League’s leading scorer, Erling Haaland, to just 23 touches throughout the match. However, the joy of this performance was short-lived, as Saliba aggravated a lingering toe issue.
As a result of this injury setback, Saliba will not be joining Les Bleus for their upcoming fixtures against the Netherlands and Scotland. Instead, he will remain in north London, where Arsenal’s medical staff at the London Colney training ground will assess and treat his chronic toe injury.
A statement released by the France National team explained the situation, stating, “William Saliba is not able to participate in the gathering of the French team. The Arsenal defender suffers from pain in his right big toe. He will remain available to his club to treat this chronic injury.”
Following discussions between Didier Deschamps and Dr. Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, it was decided that Jean-Clair Todibo, who plays for Nice, will replace Saliba. Todibo is expected to join the French squad at Clairefontaine on Monday, along with the other selected players.
Saliba has been an integral part of Arsenal’s campaign this season, featuring in every minute of their eight league matches. His absence due to this unfortunate injury will undoubtedly pose a challenge for Arsenal as they look to maintain their form in the Premier League.