Arsenal dealt major injury blow as William Saliba limps off during World Cup semi-final | OneFootball

Centre-half has been playing through injury for France this summer

Arsenal were dealt a major injury worry as William Saliba hobbled off in the World Cup semi-finals.

The centre-back was replaced by Maxence Lacroix during France’s encounter with Spain, and Les Bleus trailed 1-0 at the interval in Arlington, Texas.

Mikel Oyarzabal had opened the scoring for the European champions from the penalty spot, after Lucas Digne, the Paris Saint-Germain left-back, had kicked through Lamine Yamal in the box after misjudging a high ball.

Didier Deschamps and France were handed another blow late in the first half when Saliba went down while in possession on the half-hour, clutching his lower back.

It appeared that the Arsenal man could not continue, and Lacroix, a transfer target for Chelsea, warmed up vigorously upon instruction from his manager.

Injured: William Saliba

AFP/Getty

After medical assessment, Saliba was ruled unable to feature for the full 90, and he was replaced by the Crystal Palace defender.

Saliba had previously revealed that he was playing through a back problem throghout this summer’s tournament, and he had endured no major setbacks ahead of his country’s last-four meeting with Spain.

The 25-year-old said ahead of France’s group game against Iraq: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” he revealed to reporters on Saturday.

“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 round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”