The seven Arsenal games William Saliba could miss as huge injury update provided

Arsenal have been handed a devastating blow after William Saliba was ruled out for three to four weeks, according to sources in France. The centre-back was withdrawn from the pitch just minutes into the Gunners' loss to Liverpool before the international break.

Saliba hobbled off with an ankle problem before withdrawing from international duty with Les Bleus. The 24-year-old could now be sidelined for a month as Arsenallook to return to winning ways and Champions League action commences following the international break.

Earlier this week, a statement from the French national team read: "William Saliba, who started for Arsenal against Liverpool on Sunday, was forced off in the fifth minute. He will not be able to honour his call-up for the first training camp of the season. He is suffering from a sprained left ankle. After a discussion with Franck Le Gall, the French team doctor, Didier Deschamps confirmed the unavailability of William Saliba. The national coach has decided to call up Benjamin Pavard as a reinforcement."

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Saliba is poised to miss fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City and a Carabao Cup clash against Port Vale. Should the Arsenal star endure the worst-case scenario of the diagnosis, he will also be unavailable for encounters with Newcastle, Olympiacos and West Ham United.

Summer acquisition Cristhian Mosquera, 21, came on to repalce Saliba against Liverpool. The Spaniard was recruited from Valencia for just £13million, reports the Mirror.

Mikel Arteta bolstered his defensive line-up on transfer deadline day with the addition of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen. The 23-year-old has joined the north London side on loan, with an option to make the move permanent next summer.

Arteta expressed relief at having Mosquera available after Saliba sustained an injury during the warm-up for the match at Anfield. Despite initially thinking he could play through the pain, Saliba was unable to continue.

"He came in and he said he believed that he could carry on and play but straightaway in the first two actions I could see that he couldn't cope and we had to get him out, unfortunately," Arteta explained.

"But thank God we have Mosquera, which we put in for the first time in the Premier League, his debut[sic: Mosquera also came off the bench vs Leeds], not expecting it at Anfield and I think he was really, really good."