Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing project at Arsenal almost ended before it began back in 2022.
Arteta has been Arsenal manager since 2019, but it was only during the 2022/23 season that the Gunners announced themselves as genuine title contenders.
As Arsenal now sit top of the Premier League, it’s easy to forget where Arteta’s journey began, as the Spaniard started his reign with two eighth-place finishes and a fifth-place finish.
It’s not only how Arteta has improved as a coach that’s made the difference, but also those available to him, most notably, his two centre-backs.
Matteo Guendouzi tried to convince William Saliba to leave Arsenal
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are one of the best central defensive partnerships in the world.
Gabriel impressed before the Frenchman was integrated into the Arsenal squad, but the Brazilian hit a new level when paired with Saliba.
That so nearly wasn’t the case, however, as not only did Arteta struggle with Saliba at first, but the 24-year-old was also wanted elsewhere.
After the centre-back spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Marseille, former Gunner Matteo Guendouzi almost made himself the villain by attempting to convince Saliba to leave Arsenal for good.
Speaking to Telefoot in an interview in June 2022, Guendouzi went public with his plan to push Saliba into leaving Arsenal for Marseille on a permanent basis.
“William now has Marseille in his heart, and I’m sure that he’ll come back to Marseille next season. So I’m going to keep pushing so that he stays with us,” Guendouzi said.
Arteta and Guendouzi didn’t see eye to eye at Arsenal, and weeks after the midfielder’s permanent departure, the boss’s problem with his former player could’ve hit a new level.
Had things been different, Guendouzi could’ve played a part in Saliba cutting ties with Arsenal prematurely, but thankfully, the defender returned soon after and hasn’t looked back since.
Saliba is integral to Mikel Arteta’s project
The image of Arteta’s project running smoothly without Saliba is difficult to envisage.
Arsenal’s season fell apart during 2022/23 when the centre-back was injured, with Saliba’s importance to the squad noticed in his absence.
The Gunners notice when their star defender isn’t there, as when he is involved, there’s rarely anything to complain about.
The proof is in the numbers, as Saliba has the highest win rate of any Arsenal player to have played 100+ games in the Premier League.
Boasting a Premier League win percentage of 67.9%, there’s no need to ponder how Arteta’s plans could’ve been impacted had Saliba left at Guendouzi’s request.
Having just signed a new deal, there’s no anxiety regarding the Frenchman’s future, which is firmly with the club of his heart, Arsenal.
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