When it became apparent that Mikel Arteta wasn’t going to be using William Saliba at Arsenal this season, there was some frustration within the Emirates fanbase.
The defender was bought from AS Saint-Etienne for a lot of money, and the belief was he would play sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case to date, as Saliba has yet to make a professional appearance for Arsenal, being sent out on loan to various clubs in France since 2019.
AS Saint-Etienne welcomed him back immediately after he signed for the Gunners, before OGC Nice welcomed him for six months last season, followed by this campaign’s current temporary deal that has seen him shine at Marseille under Jorge Sampaoli.
Expected to return to Arsenal at the end of the season, since his loan has no option to buy, next year could be make or break for him at the Emirates, as he’ll be wanting to finally play for his club.
He said: “I’ve watched William Saliba this season and his performances with Marseille are very good. He’s one of the key players in defence, very claim on the ball, can play from the back, very powerful and good in diets. I think he just needed to play, and Mikel Arteta understood that. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate him, but I think that at 18-19, you need to play, to be involved every weekend.
“He’s not a player you need to leave on the bench, or who will accept to not be in the squad. When you’re at Arsenal, you need to go somewhere to play and progress. That’s how it is. I’m impatient to see him come back. He surely progressed in France, but the Premier League is something else. I think he has the ability to succeed. I’m looking forward to him returning.”
