ARSENAL loanee William Saliba would be “upset” if he returns to the Emirates following his loan spell with Marseille, according to former Gunners skipper William Gallas. The 21-year-old Frenchman, who was signed by Arsenal for £27million, has been ever-present for the Ligue 1 side since joining at the start of the season. He has missed […]
ARSENAL loanee William Saliba would be “upset” if he returns to the Emirates following his loan spell with Marseille, according to former Gunners skipper William Gallas.
The 21-year-old Frenchman, who was signed by Arsenal for £27million, has been ever-present for the Ligue 1 side since joining at the start of the season.
He has missed just one league match for Marseille and helped guide them to second in the table behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
They are also in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, with Saliba’s impressive displays earning him a call-up to the France national team squad.
And Gallas, who spent four years at Arsenal between 2006 and 2010, feels Saliba should try and force a permanent move away from Mikel Arteta‘s side for the development of his career.
Speaking to Goal, he said: “I think they didn’t give him the opportunities at Arsenal, and I don’t know why. That’s why he moved on loan to Marseille.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
“He is doing a good job, that is why they called him into the national team because he has had a great season with Marseille.
“If he comes back to Arsenal, he has to be ready to go back and maybe be on the bench at the beginning because at the moment you have got Ben White and Gabriel.
“He has to be ready to accept being on the bench. Mikel Arteta, if he plays with a different system, with three at the back, then he could play with Saliba.
“He has to understand this and be ready, otherwise don’t come back to Arsenal because it will be difficult.”
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
He continued: “Young players now have more opportunities to play, and when you start to play then you want to play every game. The problem at some clubs is that it can be difficult.
“Defenders are completely different to strikers, you need to have experience when you play at the back.
“Saliba is only 21 years old. He has played 30 or more games at Marseille, so if he goes back to Arsenal then he would like to play again. Maybe he will be on the bench, and if that happens then he will be upset.”
Discussing Saliba’s future last month, Arteta insisted the defender will be returning to Arsenal in the summer.
Read More on The Sun
The Spaniard said: “I know that sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan.
“But a lot of things have happened to him.
“He’s a long-term player for us and we need to protect him as well. And giving him three or four games is not enough.
“He’s very happy to go there now. Hopefully, he can enjoy his football and be ready for us for next season.”
