Arsenal’s injury crisis deepened during their crucial clash with Liverpool at Anfield as William Saliba was forced off within the game’s opening five minutes. The French defender is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s backline. He suffered a concerning blow in what appeared to be an innocuous aerial duel with Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike.
The incident occurred during a routine challenge for a header. But, Saliba immediately then signaled to the bench after landing awkwardly on his left foot or ankle. The 24-year-old slumped to the turf in clear discomfort. This prompted medical staff to rush onto the pitch.
Despite receiving treatment, he was unable to continue. Arteta quickly replaced the defender by new Gunners’ summer signing Cristhian Mosquera. Slow-motion replays suggested that Ekitike might have clipped the outside of Saliba’s boot.
However, nothing conclusive emerged from the footage. Non-contact injuries of this nature often raise concerns about potential ligament or structural damage. Arsenal fans will now have to anxiously await updates from Arteta on the extent of the problem.
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Arsenal lost the match by a narrow 1-0 margin to Liverpool. At the end of the match, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta mentioned that Saliba twisted his ankle even before the game begun. However, the coach only started him after the defender assured that he would be able to play. Speaking about the situation, Arteta said:
“He twisted his ankle during the warm-up. He came in and he said he believed that he could carry on and play but straightaway in the first two actions I could see that he couldn’t cope and we had to get him out, unfortunately.” Even so, the coach couldn’t say anything about his recovery time. There hasn’t been any updates from the club on the extent of his injury since as well.
Saliba’s setback adds to Arsenal’s growing list of absentees. Bukayo Saka is already sidelined with a hamstring injury that could keep him out for around four weeks. Meanwhile Kai Havertz recently underwent knee surgery. Captain Martin Odegaard also missed the match due to a minor issue.
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This latest blow comes at a critical moment. Especially with the transfer window closing in hours. Mosquera, signed from Valencia for £13 million, is the club’s only defensive addition so far. The 21-year-old will now face increased responsibility if Saliba’s injury proves serious.
Reports suggest that Arsenal are closing in on Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie on an initial loan deal with an option to buy for £45 million. The Ecuadorian, 23, is versatile enough to cover both centre-back and full-back roles. It could provide Arteta with much-needed depth.
Saliba had only recently returned to full fitness after missing the end of last season with a hamstring injury. He featured prominently in pre-season and was expected to play a major role this campaign. Now, with the Champions League and Premier League challenges ahead, his early exit at Anfield raises serious concern about Arsenal’s defensive stability.
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