Former Arsenal star William Gallas has warned defender William Saliba that he may have to endure some time on the bench before breaking into Mikel Arteta’s first eleven.
Saliba has been in flying form in the Ligue 1 this season on loan, making 32 appearances for Marseille and helping the club to – as it stands – a second-placed finish in the league. He has been central in their good form in the Europa Conference League too, and they take on Feyenoord in the semi-final of the competition later this month.
Given the Frenchman’s good form, many Arsenal fans are questioning why Saliba was allowed to go out on loan for the campaign at all. Although centre back pairing Gabriel and Ben White have impressed, Arteta’s side lack depth in central defence.
But Gallas has told Goal that if Saliba is patient then he could be given opportunities next season upon his return to North London, though he could become ‘upset’ if he is forced to warm the bench at the Emirates Stadium. He explained: “I think they didn’t give him the opportunities at Arsenal, and I don’t know why. That’s why he moved on loan to Marseille.
“He is doing a good job, that is why they called him into the national team because he has had a great season with Marseille. If he comes back to Arsenal, he has to be ready to go back and maybe be on the bench at the beginning because at the moment you have got Ben White and Gabriel.
“He has to be ready to accept being on the bench. Mikel Arteta, if he plays with a different system, with three at the back, then he could play with Saliba. He has to understand this and be ready, otherwise don’t come back to Arsenal because it will be difficult.
“Young players now have more opportunities to play, and when you start to play then you want to play every game. The problem at some clubs is that it can be difficult.
“Defenders are completely different to strikers, you need to have experience when you play at the back. Saliba is only 21 years old. He has played 30 or more games at Marseille, so if he goes back to Arsenal then he would like to play again. Maybe he will be on the bench, and if that happens then he will be upset.”
Arteta has reinvented Arsenal and created a young, passionate squad that has aspirations of winning silverware and competing for league titles, though there is also an awareness that the players – all aged 24 and under – will improve in time and their growth must be nurtured if the club is to reap the benefits in the long run. The Spanish boss also hasn’t shied away from giving young stars, notably academy products, the chance to establish themselves as first-team players and therefore Saliba may not be overly fearful that his age could prevent him from featuring on a weekly basis in the Premier League.
