Newcastle United legend, Alan Shearer, has admitted that Arsenal will be significantly weakened by the absence of key defender William Saliba, who is set to spend the next few weeks on the sidelines through injury.

The French centre-back was forced off just five minutes into the Gunners’ 1–0 defeat to Liverpool, and has since been ruled out for three to four weeks, according to L’Équipe.

Saliba’s injury has already cost him a spot in France’s 2026 World Cup qualifying fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland. He will also miss crucial games against Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Olympiacos, and West Ham. Before that, Arsenal face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League clash at the Emirates.

Speaking on Betfair, Shearer underlined the defender’s importance:

“There’s no doubt Saliba will be a big miss for Arsenal because he’s such a good player. But you won’t get too much sympathy because of who and what they are, the money that they’ve spent, and the squad that they’ve got there. That happens to all the big boys when you spend a fortune. You’re not going to get too much sympathy from rival clubs.”

Opinion: Can Arsenal Cope Without Their Defensive Rock?

Saliba’s absence raises the same question Arsenal faced last season: can the Gunners maintain their form without their defensive lynchpin? When he missed games during the 2022/23 campaign, their title charge wobbled—and many fans still point to his absence as a key factor in handing Manchester City the crown.

This time, Arsenal’s squad depth will be tested once again. With Gabriel Magalhães likely to shoulder extra responsibility and Jakub Kiwior or Ben White filling in, the Gunners have options. But none bring the same calm assurance, recovery pace, and reading of the game that Saliba provides.

Shearer is right—big clubs rarely get sympathy. Arsenal’s ambition to dethrone Manchester City means they must find resilience in difficult moments. If they can navigate this stretch without their defensive anchor, it could prove their maturity as genuine contenders.

But if history repeats itself, Saliba’s injury could once again underline how one player’s absence can reshape a title race.