Arsenal

Arsenal: James McNicholas on William Saliba

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Image for Arsenal: James McNicholas on William Saliba

James McNicholas has been discussing Arsenal defender William Saliba on a recent edition of the Arsecast alongside Andrew Mangan and Andrew Allen. 

The 19-year-old had been linked with a loan move away from the North London club and it is understood he came close to re-joining Saint-Etienne on loan and despite all parties reaching an agreement for that to happen, the deal wasn’t completed in time to meet Monday night’s transfer deadline (as per Sky Sports).

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In what month did Mikel Arteta take over as the Arsenal boss?

The Gunners paid £27m to sign the centre-back back in July 2019 but he spent last season back on loan with the Ligue 1 club (as per Transfermarkt). On the situation regarding the Frenchman, here is what McNicholas had to say:

“Clearly, if you put that kind of investment in someone, I think Arsenal did not do that envisaging he would spend a second season on loan, I think we can say that with complete confidence.

“As for his situation, I think it is partly about the number of centre-backs, but I think it is also about the fact he doesn’t look ready. I also think there was a real impetus to get him back to France because of the personal side of it, and I’m just so grateful that those rumours about a potential loan move to Fulham didn’t materialise because I think that would have been the worst possible outcome for him, to go into a struggling team in the Premier League and find that very, very difficult.”

Would you like to see Saliba given a chance to prove he is ready at Arsenal?

Yes

Yes

No

No

TIF Thoughts…

It’s clear that McNicholas doesn’t think a loan move to newly-promoted Fulham would have been good for the player but was also keen to point out that Arsenal would have likely hoped Saliba would be ready to feature for them this season.

Fortunately for Mikel Arteta, his squad is overloaded with centre-backs and so although Saliba isn’t thought to be ready to play regularly, the Arsenal boss has plenty of other options at his disposal.

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