William Saliba injury: Lower Back Problem – return date & FPL verdict
William Saliba (Arsenal): Lower Back Problem, analysed by physiotherapist Jeppe on 9 Aug 2026. Jeppe's read: “Both carry timeframes of roughly 3-5 months, depending on severity.”
By Jeppe, physiotherapist · Last updated:
What happened
William Saliba (Arsenal) - Lower Back Problem. Jeppe published his analysis on 9 Aug 2026, in the 2026/27 FPL season.
Injury explained (physio view)
There's much talk about Arsenal's defence being worse without Saliba, so here are some thoughts on the injury.
Arteta has said he has no update other than a two-week rest period to avoid worsening it.
During the World Cup semi-final he pulled up with no contact while jogging with the ball and reached for his lower back.
My guess is a lumbar disc problem. Two likely diagnoses:
A disc herniation, causing severe lower back pain and, in worse cases, radiating leg pain with weakened lower extremity strength.
Or an annular tear in the disc's outer ring, which hurts most under load such as twisting, bending, acceleration or deceleration.
Both carry timeframes of roughly 3-5 months, depending on severity.
Originally posted on X by @FPLPhysioo on 9 August 2026.
Expected return date
No return date confirmed yet. Jeppe's estimate, where he gives one, is in his analysis above.
FPL verdict
Jeppe has not given a hold, bench or sell call on this page yet. His closing line: “Both carry timeframes of roughly 3-5 months, depending on severity.”
For the numbers, compare William Saliba's projected points on his player page and against his position in FPL Player Picks.
William Saliba: predicted points · FPL Player Picks
Updates
: William Saliba Injury Report: Lower Back Problem and Return Timeline
Latest analysis - shown in full above.