William Saliba is set for a defining campaign at Arsenal this season, and the defender is seeming keen to impress amid high expectations. The 21-year-old proved himself to be one of Europe's brightest prospects while out on loan at Marseille and, now having returned to north London, he's been putting in the work ahead of pre-season.
With Mikel Arteta set to rally his troops and welcome the Gunners back to London Colney shortly, the France international has been filmed being put threw his paces. Saliba, whose contract at the Emirates Stadium expires in 2024, will be keen to repay the Spaniard's faith ahead of what is poised to redemption arc after Arsenal saw Champions League qualification slip through their fingers.
The Frenchman featured 36 times in LIgue 1 for the Olympians, steering Jorge Sampaoli's side to a silver medal finish behind Paris Saint-Germain. And, having played a key role in Marseille's success, Saliba suggested that he was keen to stay at Stade Vélodrome in May in order to play top-flight European football next season.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta's dream line-up for Arsenal's opening Premier League game of 2022/23 season
However, Arteta has since insisted that the defender 'has to come back' ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, having now earned his stripes. While Saliba is yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal three years on from his £27million arrival from St-Etienne, he believes that he 'belongs' at London Colney.
Speaking to TF1 , as quoted by Get Football News France, the defender said: "I belong to Arsenal, and I still have two years there. I will be there for pre-season with Arsenal. I have played zero matches with Arsenal and I want to show them what I'm made of and have the chance to play for the supporters and for this big club - in any case, leaving like that would be a shame."
Saliba looks set to battle it out with Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White for a place in Arteta's starting-eleven. Arteta has been impressed by the defender, admitting that a loan was best for his game-time opportunities last season.
"He has to come back," the Arsenal boss told RMC Sport. "He has the experience and the environment necessary to be competitive with us. 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. We made the right decision."
With Saliba set to fight for a place in the squad, Arsenal are expected to focus their efforts in the transfer market on signing a new centre-forward and strengthen in midfield. The Gunners have already signed Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner, with a centre-forward seemingly left on Edu's list.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal 'make third bid' for Lisandro Martinez amid major Raphinha transfer twist
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from the Emirates
Full Arsenal Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Arsenal make huge Kieran Tierney transfer decision amid Manchester City links
Arsenal star admits there is 'no chance' he stays with Mikel Arteta's side amid transfer links
