Arsenal confirm Saliba injury absence
Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will be out of action for an “extended period” after suffering a back injury while playing for France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Saliba had been one of the tournament’s standout defenders until being forced off half an hour into France’s semi-final defeat against Spain.
“Subsequent specialist reviews on William’s return to London this week have confirmed that he has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation”, Arsenal’s statement reads.
“William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period.”
Arsenal won the Premier League last season for the first time since 2003/04, with Saliba starting 30 of their 38 league games and present for 15 of their 19 clean sheets. They last defended the title when winning the First Division three seasons in a row between 1932/33 and 1934/35.
Their record in matches Saliba has missed suggests his injury could have an influence on their ability to defend their latest title.
Since his Premier League debut in 2022, Arsenal have won 68.5 per cent of their matches in which Saliba has started, compared to 50 per cent when he has not.
Arsenal with/without Saliba since 2022/23
Stats
With Saliba
Without Saliba
Matches
130
22
Wins
89
11
Draws
25
7
Losses
16
4
Avg. Goals Against
0.8
1.3
Win %
68.5%
50%
Points per match
2.2
1.8
*Scroll across on mobile to see full table
The Frenchman also led all Arsenal defenders last season for progressive passes (64), progressive carries (225) and tackle win rate (74.5 per cent).
Stones linked with Arsenal move as Tzolis signs
According to reports from The Athletic and Sky Sports, former Manchester City defender John Stones has emerged as a possible target for the Gunners as they seek cover for Saliba.
Stones, who is a free agent, started just five Premier League matches in his final season with Man City, but impressed for England at this summer’s World Cup.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta worked with Stones for three years, when the Spaniard was assistant to Pep Guardiola at City.
“John is a player I really like,” Arteta said in 2020. “I worked with him for many years. I know him well and when I look at centre-backs he has many attributes I like.”
Meanwhile, the Gunners have confirmed the signing of Greek international Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge. The winger has signed a five-year deal and will wear the No 17 shirt.
In addition to his 17 goals, Tzolis registered 23 assists in the Belgian Pro League last season, the most of any player in Europe’s top 10 leagues.
Tzolis has previous experience in England with Norwich City, for whom he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal in 2021.
Fernandes scores ‘favourite goal’ of his career in Spurs debut
Is there a better way to ingratiate yourself to your new club’s fanbase than scoring a wonder goal on debut?
Ask Mateus Fernandes, who, making his first appearance for Tottenham Hotspur after joining from West Ham United earlier this summer, scored what he described as his favourite goal of his career to date – and it took him just three minutes.
Lining up in midfield with fellow debutant Sandro Tonali in a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons that Spurs won 1-0, Fernandes smashed a volley in off the post after a Spurs corner was punched away to the edge of the box.
Watch: Fernandes’ incredible volley
What a hit, Mateus Fernandes 💥
Watch our pre-season games live on SPURSPLAY!
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 22, 2026
Eagle-eyed Premier League fans may see a strong comparison to Paul Scholes’ goal for Manchester United against Aston Villa in 2006.
Watch: Paul Scholes’ ICONIC volley at Aston Villa
“It was my favourite goal of my career – by a mile,” Fernandes told SPURSPLAY after the win.
There was also a debut for Martin Dubravka, while 17-year-old academy midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett is getting rave reviews online for his second-half performance.
Spurs will now head to the southern hemisphere for a pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia, where they will play Auckland FC, Sydney FC, and Chelsea.
Four Premier League players named in World Cup Team of the Tournament
Four Premier League players have been named in the FIFA Dream XI, a fan-voted Team of the Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Man City duo Erling Haaland and Rodri are joined by Spurs’ Pedro Porro and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez.
With four players in the XI, the Premier League is the most represented league, with no other league having more than three representatives.
Haaland scored seven goals in five appearances as Norway reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time.
Martinez made 53 defensive contributions and completed 93 per cent of his passes, as well as scoring and assisting against Cape Verde.
See: Which players made the Premier League Fan 2026 World Cup Team of the Tournament
Porro and Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy with Spain.
Porro scored against Austria and France, while his captain Rodri was crowned player of the tournament, winning the Golden Ball award.
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Haaland responds to record-breaking FPL price tag
Haaland will cost users £15.5m in Fantasy Premier League in 2026/27, a record price tag for a player in the game.
The Man City forward already held the previous record when his price was set at £15.0m in the game for the 2024/25 season, and he now appears four times in the list of the game’s nine most expensive players of all time.
Known for keeping his captions and comments on social media as direct and succinct as his finishing on the pitch, Haaland responded to news of his record-breaking FPL value by simply commenting “nice” on the Premier League’s Instagram post, before adding “and expensive”.
‘Nice’ was the same description he used when posting on Instagram to celebrate his 26th birthday on Tuesday.