The image of William Saliba crumpling to the turf in Dallas will haunt Arsenal fans for a long time. Just 30 minutes into France’s World Cup semi-final against Spain, the 25-year-old dropped to the ground and mouthed what cameras picked up clearly: “My back is gone.”
Now, with surgery looming and a four-to-five-month absence expected, Arsenal don’t just have a problem. They have an urgent vacancy at the heart of their title defence. And the name at the top of their shopping list? Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix — the very man who replaced Saliba on the pitch in Dallas.
Saliba’s Back Finally Gave Way
This didn’t come out of nowhere. Saliba had been nursing back pain for months, gritting his teeth through Arsenal’s Premier League-winning campaign and their run to the Champions League final. He managed 50 appearances across all competitions last season. That’s an enormous workload for any defender, let alone one carrying a chronic injury.
During the World Cup, things got worse. According to L’Equipe, Saliba wasn’t training between matches at all — he was only playing. Strong painkillers and a modified regime kept him going. But that approach hit its limit against Spain.
Reporter Julien Laurens captured the moment: “You could just read on William Saliba’s lips: ‘My back is gone, my back is gone,’ as he stopped playing.”
He also reportedly told teammate Dayot Upamecano: “I can’t take it anymore, my back is broken.”
Surgery is now the most likely outcome. Arsenal are bracing for a recovery timeline that would keep Saliba out until at least November or December 2026. That means Mikel Arteta will start his title defence without one of his most important players.
Why Lacroix Makes Sense for Arsenal
So where do the Gunners turn? According to Football Insider, Arsenal have turned their attention to Lacroix, and the logic is hard to argue with.
Here’s what makes him an attractive option:
- He’s Premier League-proven, having impressed consistently since joining Palace from Wolfsburg for £18 million in 2024.
- He’s a French international who already knows Saliba and has experience playing alongside the same defensive partners at national team level.
- He’s only 26 years old, entering what should be his peak years.
- His injury record is remarkably clean — just a concussion and brief groin issue in two seasons at Palace.
- He’s familiar with London, which removes any relocation adjustment period.
But here’s the catch. Chelsea have been working on a deal for Lacroix for weeks. L’Equipe reported that the Blues had essentially agreed a €55 million move, with Xabi Alonso reportedly making the Frenchman his priority signing. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that contacts have been ongoing since late June.
Arsenal’s sudden interest could complicate everything. If this turns into a bidding war, Palace will hold all the leverage. Lacroix’s contract runs until 2029, and the Eagles have already shown they won’t be pushed around — they’re reportedly demanding north of €60 million, citing the Jan Paul van Hecke deal that saw Brighton cash in at a similar price for Tottenham.
Can Arsenal Actually Pull This Off?
It won’t be simple. Crystal Palace don’t need to sell. They’ve got a new manager in Pierre Sage, and keeping Lacroix would give him a defensive cornerstone to build around. One analysis from Read Crystal Palace argued the club has zero motivation to let him leave this summer.
But Arsenal have two things working in their favour. First, the promise of Champions League football. Reports from TransferFeed suggest Lacroix wants to play at that level, and Arsenal can offer it. Chelsea, under Alonso, can’t — at least not yet.
Second, there’s the Saliba connection. Having already stepped into his shoes for France, Lacroix wouldn’t be arriving at the Emirates as a stranger to the role. He’d be covering for a player whose game he understands intimately.
The price tag won’t be cheap. Expect something in the €55-60 million range if Arsenal are serious. But for a club defending the Premier League title and chasing European glory again, that’s a cost they can absorb — especially when the alternative is starting the season with a gaping hole at centre-back.
Whether Arteta moves quickly enough to beat Chelsea to the punch remains the real question. The clock is ticking, and pre-season is already underway.
