William Saliba's Arsenal career stands at a crossroads before it has really even gotten started.
Having signed for £27million in the summer of 2019, there was an acceptance that the young French defender would take some time to adapt. Few would have predicted, however, that three years on from his signing his tally of Gunners appearances remains at zero.
There have been extenuating circumstances. For example, he was sent back to St. Etienne with the intention of continuing his development only for injuries and a Covid-19 curtailment to cut short his chances back in Ligue 1.
Mikel Arteta had replaced Unai Emery by the time that arrangement came to a close and the Spaniard was under the impression he hadn’t been afforded enough opportunities to be at Premier League level. Another loan move to Nice followed in the 2020/21 campaign before he was allowed to join Marseille for the entirety of last season.
And it was under the guidance of Jorge Sampaoli at the Stade Velodrome where Saliba started to show exactly why Emirates bosses apportioned such a chunky outlay to acquire his services. On a weekly basis, the central defender was one of the best in the French top flight and deservedly was named as Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season.
Now ready to be introduced to the senior Arsenal setup, there are public reservations on the player’s side, admitting that his desire to play in the Champions League means he wants to remain in Marseille.
Nevertheless, Arteta is adamant he will return and believes his decision to loan him out again has been vindicated. "He has to come back. He has the experience and the environment necessary to be competitive with us.
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“If he had stayed with us this year, with a match of Premier League a week, with Ben White and Gabriel, he wouldn't have had half the playing time he had with Marseille, that's for sure.
“For his growth and what he can do next season that wouldn't have been good. William wasn't with us because he wouldn't have had the playing time to gain experience. That's it, there's nothing else."
Arsenal great Cesc Fabregas is also of that belief, claiming that Ligue 1 is a perfect breeding ground for Premier League players. With Leicester City’s Wesley Fofana - a former team-mate of Saliba - a timely example of how the similarities between the two leagues can help arrivals to adjust quickly.
“There is a lot of intensity in both leagues, there are strong players,” the Monaco midfielder told Mirror Football last year. “Obviously I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, the most competitive and has the best talent, the best physical attributes.
“But Ligue 1 has so many talents from France came into the Premier League to big clubs straight away and performed really well over the years. It’s a league full of young talents and projects and it’s improving.
“Before I came here I didn’t really know much about Ligue 1 - I have to admit I wasn’t following all the time - and I’ve been really impressed about the quality and the level of the league and that should continue.”
Saliba’s return, should both parties come to an agreement, promises to give Arsenal a welcome boost in their defensive ranks - and looking back, Arteta’s decision to allow for a slow and steady progress in Ligue 1 could bear fruit for years to come.
