Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been impressed by what he has seen from defender William Saliba in pre-season, and has urged him to continue that into the new season.
The 21 year-old signed on a permanent deal from St Etienne back in 2019, but has spent three separate loan spells in Ligue 1 since, and is now gearing up for a first-team role at the Emirates.
After featuring in all four of our pre-season outings in the US in July, the manager has been impressed with what he has seen from Saliba,
“I am really pleased to see the way he is playing, the way he has adapted to the team, the maturity that he’s shown at 21-years-old, carry on doing it,” Arteta said as quoted by the Express. “We will keep developing him, he has a huge potential, he is already a top player and we have to make him even better. He looked ready to me today.”
Saliba may not be expected to start the new season as first choice, but I certainly believe that he will end the campaign with as many starts as Ben White in the RCB role.
He’s already shown plenty in preseason to suggest that he will quickly settle into our squad, and I believe Arteta will quickly be convinced of his credentials.
Patrick
Nice to hear that from arteta concerning saliba. And we still need that a DM.
C’mon saliba come marshall our defence looking forward to ur new ratings on FIFA.
Was lucky enough to see Saliba put in a perfect performance in person against Chelsea in Orlando and I CAN’T WAIT to see him in action this season!! (On TV unfortunately as I live in the States)
Let’s hope he produces the goods in the cauldron of the EPL where the pressure will be considerably higher than he experienced in the French league.As it is, given the doubts concerning the fitness of Tomi, I suspect White may well play at RB against Palace rather than Cedric, and there will be occasions when it would be sensible to play a back three system to match up with the likes of Brighton and Spurs who are essentially counter attacking sides.I sincerely hope Saliba lives up to the hype meeted out on him by certain groups of fans who have never failed to use him as a weapon to attack our Manager who made a decision to loan him out , a decision which has greatly assisted his development.
It is not because I am French but trust me when I say,there are very few more intimidating places than” le Stade Vélodrome de Marseille”,this is a proper cauldron of s stadium.
As a result of his initial handling, I suspect he will be dealt with by the gaffer in kids gloves
Arteta should use Saliba start of the football campaign. He is good and he has character to marshal our defence.
Be great if he signs before the season begins