Arsenal star withdraws from France squad due to a 'chronic toe injury'

10/09/2023 Soccer

Arsenal defender William Saliba withdraws from the France squad due to a ‘chronic toe injury’ despite playing a starring role in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Man City

  • Saliba suffered a toe injury that will keep him out of Didier Deschamps’ squad 
  • The 22-year-old kept Erling Haaland quiet in the Gunners’ win at the Emirates
  • Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Arsenal defender William Saliba has pulled out of the France squad due to a toe injury. 

The 22-year-old was one of the Gunners’ best performers on Sunday night as the north London club beat Man City 1-0 at the Emirates to move joint top of the Premier League. 

Saliba played the full 90 minutes but was withdrawn from Didier Deschamps’ France roster shortly after full-time ahead of the European qualifier against Netherlands and friendly with Scotland.

The French Football Federation described the former Marseille player’s issue as a ‘chronic injury’ in a statement and announced Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo will take his place in the squad. 

‘William Saliba is not able to participate in the gathering of the French team,’ the statement said. 

William Saliba has been forced to pull out of the France squad with a chronic toe injury

Didier Deschamps has replaced Saliba with Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo for the games

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Saliba restricted Erling Haaland (left) to just 23 passes and not a single shot at the Emirates

‘The Arsenal defender suffers from pain in his right big toe. He will remain available to his club to treat this chronic injury.

‘After speaking with Dr. Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, Didier Deschamps noted William Saliba’s withdrawal and decided to replace him with Jean-Clair Todibo.

‘The latter is expected at Clairefontaine on Monday at noon, like all the selected players.’

Alongside team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba kept Erling Haaland quiet and starred as Mikel Arteta’s side claimed their league win against City since 2015. 

Saliba joins Bukayo Saka in missing the upcoming international schedule as the English winger is set to pull out of Gareth Southgate’s squad after failing to recover from an injury he suffered in the first-half of the Champions League clash against Lens on Tuesday.

‘He hasn’t had a single training session so he will be out.’ Arteta said post-match. ‘He’s not available to play football at the moment.’

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