Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that William Saliba never wanted to leave the club this summer.
Saliba signed for the north Londoners three years ago, joining from Saint Etienne for a reported £30 million. However, he then spent three loan spells back in France, leading some to speculate that his long-term future could in fact be away from the Emirates Stadium.
The young defender enjoyed an excellent temporary spell with Marseille last season, leading to some reports linking him with a permanent switch to the Ligue 1 giants. Still, the 21-year-old ended up staying at the Emirates Stadium and earned the man of the match award during his Arsenal debut last week as the Gunners defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 in their Premier League opener.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Vieira's fitness, Saliba's contract and Aubameyang regrets
Now, Arteta has opened up about Saliba's future, admitting that the talented centre-back never gave any indication that he wanted to depart. Speaking ahead of today's clash against Leicester City, as per CBS Sports, the Spaniard said: “The reality is he was very convinced and determined to come here.
"He had no other choice. He never suggested anything else. From the first conversations that we had with him, you could see that he only had one intention – to come here and start to play football matches for Arsenal.”
Arteta also admitted that considering that Saliba is still very young, at 21 years old, he is likely to make mistakes this term. When asked about the French international potentially making errors this season, the former Manchester City coach said: “Mistakes are a part of football at 21 and 35, they’re going to happen.
“The mistakes that we want to happen are, as much as possible, on the training pitch. And if they’re going to happen on the pitch, that they don’t cost you goals. That’s the objective. Inevitably things will happen.
“I always say, especially with young players and the development portfolio that we have in our squad, you have to pay a bill. That bill is that at some stage they’re going to make mistakes, they’re going to experience things for the first time, and they have to go through that process.”
Arsenal transfer business under the microscope in 'good deal' or 'bad deal'
Yeremy Pino links, Youri Tielemans latest, Hector Bellerin exit - Arsenal transfer state of play
The three Leicester players Brendan Rodgers will be without for Premier League clash vs Arsenal
Edu's pursuit of La Liga star can be altered with £31m bargain transfer to better suit Arsenal
Fabio Vieira offers Mikel Arteta four squad solutions and transfer hint as Arsenal debut confirmed
