Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about his initial doubts regarding centre-back William Saliba upon his return to the club last summer, revealing that he refrained from speaking to the player for a week to observe him in training.
Saliba, who had spent the previous two seasons on loan in France, returned to Arsenal amid high expectations following an impressive campaign with Marseille in 2020/21. However, Arteta admitted that he still had questions about the 21-year-old’s potential until he saw him in training.
After observing Saliba in the first two sessions, Arteta was convinced that the player had huge potential, stating that his attitude was a key factor in his assessment. Saliba has since gone on to start every league game for Arsenal this season, forming a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes and helping the team keep 11 clean sheets in the process.
Arsenal is currently in negotiations to extend Saliba’s contract and with his impressive performances, the player’s future at the club looks bright. Arteta has commended Saliba for ticking off every question mark that he had and proving himself to be a great player for the team.
Saliba’s next challenge will be to help Arsenal secure a third consecutive clean sheet when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
