Arsenalโs medical department will be monitoring developments at the 2026 World Cup with growing concern after another key first-team star admitted he is playing through injury.
Mikel Artetaโs side have endured a grueling campaign en route to Premier League glory and a Champions League final appearance, but it has become increasingly clear that some of the clubโs biggest names have not been performing at full fitness.
With Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka already discussing the injury problems they have dealt with in the second half of the season, centre-back William Saliba has now made an equally worrying admission.
William Saliba makes alarming injury confession ahead of France v Iraq match
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Saliba said he played in pain for months as he prepared to start the second group match of the World Cup against Iraq.
The Arsenal centre-back, who partnered Dayot Upamecano in Les Blaisโ opening 3-1 win over Senegal, admitted he has ongoing fitness issues but continues to thrive due to the importance of both club and international commitments.
โI was in a bit of trouble for a few months,โ Saliba told reporters. โI gritted my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff copes with this very well.
โThe World Cup is only held once every four years, so you have to bite the bullet.
โIโm not 100 percent, but there are a lot of players who arenโt 100 percent either โ you canโt make excuses.โ
These comments are bound to raise eyebrows at Arsenal given how important Saliba has been throughout their title campaign. The France international made 50 appearances in all competitions and was once again one of the first names in Artetaโs squad.
While there is no indication that Saliba faces a lengthy absence, the fact that he openly admits to not being fully fit highlights the physical toll of a very long and demanding season.
New injury concerns at Arsenal add to growing list of concerns
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Salibaโs admission follows similar statements from two other Arsenal stars currently at the World Cup.
England continue to closely monitor Bukayo Sakaโs time after battling Achilles tendinitis in the latter stages of the season. The winger missed several matches in April and Thomas Tuchel has already suggested that caution will remain a priority during the tournament.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice was substituted during the Three Lionsโ 4-2 win over Croatia after experiencing discomfort in his lower back and upper hamstring. Although both Rice and Tuchel played down the severity of the problem, the Arsenal midfielder later revealed that he spent much of the second half of last season being treated for what he described as a โneural problemโ.
From the Gunnersโ point of view, the timing of these admissions is worrying.
Rice, Saka and Saliba were arguably the three most important outfield players in the clubโs Premier League triumph and have now all admitted they have struggled with physical problems in recent months.
The positive news is that none of the trio appear to have injuries serious enough to rule them out of the World Cup entirely. However, their comments highlight how Arsenalโs success last season depended on key players overcoming discomfort and performing despite not being fully fit.
That resilience helped deliver silverware, but Arteta will no doubt hope his stars return from international duty without further problems.