Arsenal will retake their 2026/27 squad photo to include William Saliba, who missed the original shoot due to injury and scheduling conflicts. The defender is sidelined with a long-term back injury sustained during the World Cup while representing France.
The Premier League champions released their official squad photo this week, but fans quickly noticed Saliba’s absence. Arsenal later explained that the 25-year-old was unavailable because of a “medical appointment.” Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the photo shoot had been rescheduled multiple times and that they finally proceeded without Saliba due to commercial commitments.
“What happened was that we have tried to do that picture three times already and we had to cancel it last minute for different reasons,” Arteta said. “We had some commercial obligations, we had some people who came to do that, so we decided to do that picture. At least we will have another picture with the whole family. Hopefully we can get them all together at some point one day, and we'll announce that.”
Saliba’s injury came during the summer tournament and has ruled him out for an “extended period.” Despite his absence from the squad photo, Arteta assured supporters that the defender is “fine.” He added that Saliba faced some light-hearted teasing from teammates over missing the shoot.
“It wasn't in his hands. Willy is normally happy about everything. He knows how loved he is. He was taking some banter from the players and he is completely fine,” the Arsenal manager said.
The club shared the official squad picture on October 14, 2026, with the hashtag #ClassOf26/27. Saliba’s absence was the most noticeable omission for many fans, prompting swift clarification from the club.
Arteta revealed that Saliba will undergo another MRI scan next week to monitor the healing process of his back injury. “But every sign so far has been very, very positive. It will be good to have him,” he said.
Saliba’s recovery is closely watched given his role in Arsenal’s defence since joining the club. His injury means he has missed the early part of the season, but the medical updates suggest a return could be on the horizon.
The decision to retake the squad photo shows Arsenal’s intent to present a full team image, reflecting the club’s collective identity. Fans can expect an announcement on the new shoot date once arrangements are finalised.
According to Yahoo Sports.
