The latest word stemming from the European media suggests that Arsenal defender William Saliba is becoming increasingly frustrated with his situation at the club.
Gunners spell
Saliba’s Arsenal stint has of course proven somewhat bizarre to this point.
The now-19-year-old was purchased from Saint-Etienne last summer, before being immediately loaned back to the Ligue 1 outfit, to gain further first-team experience.
The general assumption, in turn, was that Saliba would return to the Emirates this summer, ahead of playing a central role in Mikel Arteta’s first-team setup – the Gunners did, after all, splash out a reported £27 million on the youngster.
Saliba has, as expected, since returned to north London.
However, he is yet to secure any sort of consistent game-time. In fact, the Frenchman has not been afforded a single appearance for Arsenal’s first-team.
Instead, Saliba has been restricted to outings with the club’s U23s.
The gifted stopper’s exclusion from Arsenal’s Europa League squad, meanwhile, only saw questions mount further, especially when taking into account the fact that another loan move away from the Emirates, despite interest, was not sanctioned over the final weeks of the transfer window.
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 13: William Saliba of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 13, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal exit incoming?
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has already expressed his regret at Saliba’s European omission, admitting that it ‘hurt’ him to leave the youngster out:
‘I feel really bad for William Saliba. Because we had so many central defenders, we decided to leave him out of the squad which was really hurtful for me to do.’
If the latest word stemming from the French media on Tuesday is to be believed, though, then the attempts of his manager to smooth over the situation do not appear to have had much impact in easing Saliba’s disappointment.
This comes amid claims that the stopper is ready to push for a January exit from the Emirates.
According to ButFootballClub, as cited by SportWitness, Saliba has become altogether ‘fed up’ with his lack of first-team opportunities under Mikel Arteta.
As such, he has begun looking increasingly towards a loan departure, to garner some much-needed game-time at senior level.
A return to Saint-Etienne is cited as Saliba’s preference, with interest said to be very much reciprocated on the part of the Ligue 1 outfit.
It should therefore come as little surprise if a winter departure from north London does indeed come to fruition for the Frenchman.
William Saliba | Arsenal player ‘fed up’ with situation at Emirates – ‘Considering’ January exit ‘more and more’, has club in mindhttps://t.co/mRa5wK29QV #afc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) November 3, 2020
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The latest word stemming from the European media suggests that Arsenal defender William Saliba is becoming increasingly frustrated with his situation at the club. Gunners spell Saliba’s Arsenal stint has of course proven somewhat bizarre to this point. The now-19-year-old was purchased from Saint-Etienne last summer, before being immediately loaned back to the Ligue 1Football (soccer) greatest goals and highlights | 101 Great Goals – Feed