Mikel Arteta will no doubt have been buoyed by seeing William Saliba make his international bow for France ahead of his return to Arsenal this summer.
The defender turned 21 on Thursday and celebrated with a debut for his country just 24 hours later in their 2-1 friendly win over Ivory Coast. His involvement perhaps came as a surprise even to him, given he had been omitted from Didier Deschamps' squad initially before earning a late call-up due to injuries in the France camp.
But his reward was no less than the youngster deserved after impressing during a loan spell with Marseille this season. His performances have led to a persistent clamour for him to be brought back into the Arsenal fold, and Arteta will be pleased to hear Saliba's response after getting his first crack at international level.
The centre-back admitted only this week he was content with life at Marseille if Arteta does not want him back at the Emirates Stadium, having been yet to make an appearance under the Spaniard, who was appointed after Saliba's transfer to North London.
Yet it seems Saliba would be prepared to knuckle down and fight for his place should he be kept with the Gunners for the 2022/23 season. Speaking after his debut as a second half substitute, Saliba gushed: "I'm very proud, there's lots of emotions. It's an honour to wear this shirt, especially at the Vélodrome. I'm going to sleep very well tonight, I'm very happy."
Discussing the conversation he had with boss Deschamps, he explained: "The coach told me he couldn't promise me anything, but that I should be ready if I were needed. So I gave my all in training, ensured I was ready if the coach needed me, and that's what happened today. I came on, and I'm very proud."
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Saliba's account will be music to Arteta's ears, amid concerns the defender may not want to play second fiddle when he returns. Gabriel Magalhaes and Benjamin White have formed a solid partnership at the back and it's unlikely Saliba will be drafted straight in to replace either player immediately and will have to work for his chance.
That said, it could pose a problem if Saliba is not willing to adopt a similar approach to his attitude on international duty, and the defender has been urged to seek assurances on the role Arteta has planned for him before making a decision on his future.
Ex-Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit told The Arsenal Way : "Does he have the guarantee that if he comes back to Arsenal he will play every single game? I'm not sure about that. He's in the first XI at Marseille, he's playing every single game.
"If you ask him to come back to Arsenal then he'll need guarantees: 'After what I did for Marseille, now I'm in the national team because of my displays with Marseille every single weekend so when you ask me to come back, okay, I need guarantees, I must play, I need to keep on improving myself, I need to go step by step'."
"If you tell him I want you to come back because of what you've done for Marseille, this is not enough for me. If I am Saliba, this is not enough for me because this is my career as well. 'I'm very happy to be an Arsenal player but I want you to show me confidence, and on top of it more importantly I want you to play me, I don't want to be on the bench'. White and Gabriel are very good together. If I am Saliba I am asking so many questions."
