Arsenal allowed William Saliba to join Marseille on a season-long loan deal last week and many fans turned on Mikel Arteta for not giving the young French defender a chance at the Emirates.
The Gunners signed Saliba two years ago when he was still 18 for £27 million. (Goal) He was sent back on loan to Saint-Etienne immediately, but Arsenal fans were convinced that he would play a big part when he returned.
However, Arteta wasn’t at all convinced. He didn’t feel that Saliba was ready for the Premier League and kept him away from the first team in the first half of last season. The Frenchman was then shipped out on loan to Nice in January.
Saliba was one of Nice’s best players since the turn of the year. He was outstanding for them at the back, and Arsenal fans were again convinced that he would be given a chance in pre-season and potentially in the Premier League next term.
Arteta was still not convinced and Saliba was sent out on loan for the third time. Some Arsenal fans are furious, but the teenager’s comments about what Marseille manager Jorge Sampaoli told him hints that the Arsenal boss was right to loan him out after all.
Saliba: Marseille boss Sampaoli told me I have a lot to improve
The young Frenchman said, as per Get Football News France: “We spoke. He wanted me in his team. He explained to me that even though I am a good player now, I had a lot of things to improve.
“With him, I will have ways of progressing, his playing philosophy speaks to me. I can play in a four, on the right or on the left. As long as the team is good, I can play everywhere.”
Arteta was right after all
Saliba is undoubtedly one of the finest young defenders in Europe at the moment. He has the potential to be among the best in the world in a few years’ time, but as Sampaoli told him, he has a lot to improve now, and Arteta is right to not push him.
Yes, we would’ve all loved to have seen the young Frenchman get a chance – at least in our games in Scotland and in America. However, a full pre-season with Marseille will be hugely beneficial for him ahead of the new campaign.
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Saliba certainly has a lot to improve and he’ll need to play regularly to reach the level required. Arteta couldn’t guarantee regular chances for him next term, especially with Arsenal not playing in Europe. Sending him out on loan, as frustrating as it is to all of us, was the right decision. Hopefully, he’ll come back ready for the Premier League next year.
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