Arteta explains why Saliba was sent on loan twice before Arsenal breakthrough

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on the pivotal role loan spells played in William Saliba’s development into a star defender.

Despite initial doubts and interest from PSG, Arteta’s decision to send Saliba to Ligue 1 proved instrumental in his growth. Now a French international and a mainstay in Arsenal’s defence, Saliba’s journey is a testament to Arteta’s player development approved 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up about William Saliba‘s development and the club’s decision to send him on loan to Ligue 1. Despite interest from PSG, Saliba has become a key player for Arsenal, solidifying his place in the Gunners’ defence as an undisputed starter.

Arteta admitted that Saliba was not ready for the Premier League upon his arrival in 2020. “When he arrived at the club (in the summer of 2020, after his first loan), we wanted to observe him. We kept him for several months. Our assessment of the situation led us to two conclusions. Firstly, he wasn’t ready to play in the Premier League, at the level and in the role I thought he could have. Then, most importantly, the environment wasn’t good enough for him to progress, become what I imagined, and reach the potential he had,” Arteta told L’Équipe.

The decision was made to loan Saliba to OGC Nice and later Marseille, where he gained valuable experience and matured as a player. “I was 100% convinced he would play for Arsenal. But not at that moment. I told him I wasn’t going to throw him into that, he wasn’t ready for that,” Arteta explained.