A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as France boss Didier Deschamps slams William Saliba and Gary Neville issues a new verdict on the 2023/24 Premier League title race.
France boss slams Arsenal star Saliba for his ‘psychological’ state
France coach Deschamps has slammed Saliba, claiming the Arsenal defender does not view international duty with the same ‘psychological’ state as his club commitments. But the boss believes the gifted defender has ‘everything he needs’ to reach the next level with Les Bleus.
Saliba is a part of Deschamps’ latest camp this month as France face Gibraltar and Greece in Euro 2024 qualifiers. Les Bleus can secure the top spot in Group B if results go their way this weekend, as well. They currently have a six-point lead on the Netherlands with two ties left.
A toe injury prevented Saliba from featuring as France beat the Netherlands 2-1 last month. The 22-year-old had earlier won his 10th cap for Les Bleus in a friendly against Germany this September. But Deschamps wants Saliba to give France the same qualities he offers Arsenal.
“He hasn’t had a lot of playing time with us,” Deschamps said, via quotes by RMC Sport. “He performs very well at [the] club level. In the national team, he hasn’t always been in the best conditions in matches where I’ve had a lot of trouble.
“He’s not in the same psychological situation at a club, where he does not ask himself the question of whether he is going to play on the weekend. When he has playing time with us, he tells himself that he must perform well because he there are people behind [him].
“He is not in a psychological situation that is the same with his club. He has everything he needs to take the next step.”
Read more about what France boss Deschamps has said about Arsenal’s Saliba, here.
Brazil are testing Arsenal winger Martinelli in a rare position
Brazil are testing Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli in a rare position as the Selecao prepare for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers with Colombia and Argentina. That is according to TNT Sports Brazil, which reports that Martinelli is warming up for their two huge ties as a striker.
Martinelli has often been a bit-part player for his country since the 22-year-old got his debut in March 2022. The winger has only started one of his seven caps so far and has featured for just 194 minutes altogether. Each of his outings have also been out wide on the left channel.
The left-wing is also Martinelli’s home for Arsenal, from where the Guarulhos native has two goals this season. Mikel Arteta has deployed the dynamo out wide for all 14 of his outings so far. Martinelli has even only played 16 times as a striker for Arsenal in his 144 career outings.
Read more about how Brazil are using Arsenal forward Martinelli, here.
Arsenal have been trying to sell Partey for the past year
Arsenal have been actively trying to sell Thomas Partey for the past year but are stepping up their efforts now. That is according to Dean Jones, who reports that the Gunners have often argued the 30-year-old’s future at Emirates Stadium yet sidelined it over their other targets.
The north Londoners have now marked the upcoming January window as their ideal chance to move on from Partey, though. Arsenal have also marked Fluminense gem Andre Trindade as an attainable successor for Partey. His Brazilian Serie A team are willing to sell in January.
Read more about Arsenal’s stance on Partey’s future and Andre’s potential transfer, here.
Neville issues his latest Premier League verdict for Arsenal
Eight-time Premier League winner Gary Neville believes Arsenal can beat Manchester City to lift the top-flight crown this term. The Manchester United icon feels the Gunners’ slow start to this campaign is not necessarily a bad thing after starting last season like a house on fire.
Arsenal burst out of the gates in 2022/23 and they enjoyed 248 days atop the table. Yet they still fell short of Manchester City after enduring a late collapse following the back injury that Saliba sustained. Arteta only oversaw three wins in the north Londoners’ final nine matches.
Their dire end to last season started by wasting a 2-0 lead over Liverpool, who came back to draw 2-2 in the 87th minute. Arsenal led 2-0 after 28 minutes at Anfield. They also spurned another 2-0 lead at West Ham United after only 10 minutes to draw 2-2 at London Stadium.
Southampton then shocked Arsenal, who required 88th and 90th-minute goals to take a 3-3 draw at Emirates Stadium. So, to see Arsenal start this term with eight wins and three draws in 12 games but playing worse football, Neville claims they can still win the Premier League.
“Arsenal can win the league this season,” Neville said on The Overlap. “Despite starting slow, the football will come, the football that we saw from them last season. The fact that they’ve started a little bit slower, I never think is a bad thing. They’re sat there in the pack behind.
“I do think that when the football comes – and it could come after Christmas [or] at March, which is the right time – they could be the opposite of last season, a bit of a slow start and stronger finish.”
Read more about what Neville has had to say on Arsenal winning the Premier League, here.
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