Arsenal suffers a major setback in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal has received unfortunate news as key defender William Saliba is forced to withdraw from the international training camp due to injury.

Saliba played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal's 0-2 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. However, after the match, he was confirmed to have an issue with his left ankle and will be unavailable for France's upcoming two friendly matches.

According to the announcement from the French Football Federation, Saliba is experiencing recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of 10 days. This is the reason why the defender has withdrawn from the matches against Brazil (26/3) and Colombia (29/3) during the FIFA Days.

The player called up as a replacement is Maxence Lacroix, the defender from Crystal Palace. This is also Lacroix's first call-up to the French national team at the senior level, after impressing with his club performances.

Saliba's injury is a heavy blow to manager Mikel Arteta's ambitions during the crucial stage of the season. Previously, Arsenal also did not have the services of Eberechi Eze in the final due to a calf injury. This player also had to withdraw from the England national team, giving his place to Harvey Barnes.

Currently, Arsenal still leads the Premier League standings with a 9-point advantage over Man City, despite having played one more match. However, losing key players like Saliba and Eze could significantly impact the title race, especially as the season enters its decisive phase.

Arteta's team still has clear opportunities to compete in multiple arenas, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. In the European competition, they will face Sporting CP, while in the FA Cup, their opponent is Southampton.

In case Saliba's absence extends longer than expected, Cristhian Mosquera is considered a viable replacement option. The 21-year-old defender has made 25 appearances this season (14 as a starter) and has performed well when substituting for Saliba, notably in the 1-0 win against Brighton.

With a dense schedule ahead, manager Arteta will certainly hope that the international break allows Saliba sufficient recovery time to return in optimal condition for Arsenal's challenging final stretch.