Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool got off to a difficult start as key defender William Saliba was forced to leave the pitch just five minutes into the game. The French centre-back, one of Mikel Arteta’s most reliable players, appeared to suffer a physical problem that made it impossible for him to continue.
The incident immediately caused concern on the Arsenal bench. Saliba, who has been a central figure in the Gunners’ defense over the last two seasons, went down in visible discomfort and after a brief medical assessment signaled that he could not carry on. Arteta was left with no choice but to make an early substitution, disrupting his team’s plans almost from the opening whistle.
The injury not only represents a major setback for Arsenal in such a high-profile fixture but also raises questions about Saliba’s availability for upcoming matches. His absence would be particularly worrying given the importance of defensive stability against top opponents in both the Premier League and European competition.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will have taken note of the disruption in Arsenal’s back line, with Jürgen Klopp’s forwards expected to test the reshuffled defense throughout the game.
For now, the focus will be on medical updates regarding Saliba’s condition, with Arsenal fans anxiously awaiting confirmation of the severity of the issue. Losing the Frenchman for any significant period would be a huge blow to their ambitions this season.