Arsenal defender William Saliba withdraws from France squad with injury sustained against Man City

Arsenal defender William Saliba has pulled out of the France team due to a toe injury he picked up in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Manchester City. This setback comes at an unfortunate time for the 22-year-old, as he was hoping to represent his country in the upcoming European qualifier against the Netherlands and the friendly against Scotland.

Saliba’s absence was confirmed by the French Football Federation, who provided further details about his condition. According to their statement, the young defender is suffering from pain in his right big toe, which has been identified as a chronic injury. In order to ensure his full recovery, Saliba has been advised to stay in north London and focus on receiving appropriate treatment from the medical staff at Arsenal.

In light of Saliba’s withdrawal, Didier Deschamps, the French national team manager, wasted no time in finding a replacement. Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo was swiftly called up to join the squad. Todibo, who recently impressed with his performances for his club, is set to report to the training camp at Clairefontaine along with the other selected players.

The absence of Saliba adds to the list of Arsenal players who won’t be available for international duty. Bukayo Saka, who has been a standout performer for Arsenal, will also miss England’s upcoming matches. Saka sustained an injury during a recent Champions League match against Lens, requiring him to sit out the national team’s games against Australia and Italy.

Despite these setbacks, Arsenal can take pride in their recent victory over Manchester City, which saw Saliba exhibit a solid performance. Alongside his defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes, the Frenchman played a key role in keeping Erling Haaland quiet and helping Arsenal secure their first league win over City since 2015. The Gunners will now shift their focus to their next challenge, a highly anticipated clash against London rivals Chelsea scheduled for October 21.

With their joint possession of first place in the Premier League alongside Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal aims to maintain their impressive early-season form and continue to compete for the top spots in the standings. The club will undoubtedly miss the contributions of Saliba and Saka during the international break, but the team’s depth will be tested as they strive to carry their momentum forward in their upcoming fixtures.