‘He has to come back’: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists William Saliba will return to north London next season… despite French centre back saying he wants to STAY at Marseille and play in the Champions League
- William Saliba has expressed his wish to go back to Marseille next year
- Saliba’s displays helped them come second and win his first senior France caps
- The 21-year-old signed for Arsenal in 2019 but has yet to play a competitive game
- But Mikel Arteta says the centre back has to return to the Emirates next season
Mikel Arteta is adamant William Saliba will return to Arsenal next season.
Saliba, who has expressed his wish to go back to Marseille next year and play in the Champions League, signed for Arsenal in 2019 for £27m from St Etienne but has yet to play a competitive game for the club.
The 21 year-old centre back has spent all but half a season since joining on loan back in France with St Etienne, Nice and Marseille.
Mikel Arteta is adamant French defender William Saliba will return to Arsenal next season
The 21-year-old wants to go back to Marseille next year and play in the Champions League
Saliba’s Marseille displays helped them finish second and him win his first senior France caps, be named Ligue 1’s young player of the season and in the team of the year.
Arteta said: ‘He has to come back. He has the experience and environment to be competitive with us. We made the right decision [to loan him out].
‘If he had stayed with us this year with Ben White and Gabriel, he would not have had half the playing time he had with Marseille.
Saliba picked up the award for young player of the season in Ligue 1 after his fine displays
‘For his growth and what he can do next season it would not have been good.
‘William was not with us because he would not have had the playing time to gain experience. That’s all, there’s nothing else.’
Meanwhile Arsenal are close to confirming midfielder Mohamed Elneny has signed a new, initial one-year contract.
