William Saliba signed for Arsenal in July 2019, and huge things were expected from the defender.
He’d been highly rated in France during his time was Nice and was expected to go on and achieve at the highest level. The 21-year-old has started to fulfil his potential, although he’s not doing it with the Gunners right now.
On loan with Marseille for the current season, Saliba has been a regular and that’s seen him feature for Didier Deschamps with France.
Due back at Arsenal in the summer, Saliba will likely be concerned that Mikel Arteta wouldn’t give him the same regularity, and that could impact his chances of going to the World Cup with France in November.
In an interview with L’Equipe, the defender has been asked if he has any news from those in charge at Arsenal. To that, Saliba answered: “They are often in contact with my agent. They send me messages. They watch my matches. They tell me that we have to continue like this.
“I haven’t played much with the Gunners. The coach has made his choices, that’s life. I left on loan, I put the matches together, and I became an international. What happened to me forged a tougher mind, it is not because you have cost €30m that you are playing. I take it positively, even if there are times that you wonder.
“For six months I saw I was the only in the group not to play, that hurt.”
Asked if he sees himself returning to Arsenal to play the role of a substitute in London, Saliba said: “Of course, I can’t be happy on Arsenal’s bench. I want to play as a starter. Afterwards, if I enter the rotation as a substitute, it’s not like being in the U23s and never being in the squad.”
On a potential stay at Marseille, he added: “We’ll see after (the season). If I come back, it will be with great, great pleasure.”
