William Saliba Says He’s Gritting Teeth Through Pain at World Cup. Arsenal Fans Are Holding Their Breath.

William Saliba is not at 100 percent. He admitted it himself. The France and Arsenal defender dropped a pretty honest admission after Les Bleus kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal — he’s been playing through pain for months.

And this isn’t just a World Cup thing. Saliba said the minor niggles have been bothering him for a while, stretching back through the Champions League and Premier League seasons. But with a World Cup every four years, he’s not about to sit out.

Playing through it for club and country

“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba told reporters. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well.”

He added: “The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 percent either, you can’t make excuses.”

That kind of mindset is exactly what you want from a player in a tournament setting. But for Arsenal fans watching at home, it’s also a little nerve-wracking. Saliba has been a rock for the Gunners all season, and the idea of him pushing through something that might get worse is not exactly comforting.

What this means for Arsenal

The Gunners are expected to lean heavily on Saliba again next season, especially with Champions League football back on the schedule. If he’s carrying something now and keeps playing through it, there’s always a risk it could turn into something more serious. The French medical staff are handling the load, sure, but Arsenal’s own doctors will want a full picture when he gets back.

For now, Saliba looks set to start again Monday against Iraq. France can punch their ticket to the knockout round with a win. And Saliba will be out there, gritting his teeth, same as he has been for a while.

The good news is he’s still playing well. The bad news is he’s not the only one in this tournament running on fumes. But that’s the World Cup for you — nobody’s at peak fitness by the time the knockout stage rolls around anyway.