Arsenal fear that star defender William Saliba could miss the rest of the season in what would be a crushing blow to their Premier League title hopes.
Saliba, 22, has been ruled out for the last six weeks with a back injury and is set to miss Wednesday's crucial trip to face title rivals Manchester City. Since the French centre-back limped off early in the Gunners' Europa League last-16 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on March 16, they've failed to keep a clean sheet in all five fixtures without him, while back-up Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out injured.
Having drawn their last three league games to hand City the advantage, manager Mikel Arteta is desperate for Saliba to return. Unfortunately for him, though, there's a growing dread around the Emirates that Arsenal might have to wait until next season to see the 22-year-old back in action - when their title shot might have passed them by.
