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Defender set for exit?
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has criticised the Premier League giants for their handling of young talent William Saliba during his time at the club. The young, French defender made the move from Saint-Étienne to Arsenal in 2019 for a fee of around £27 million but has yet to make a single first team appearance for his current club. Instead, Saliba has found himself back in Ligue 1 on loan in each of the three seasons that have followed his move to London.
First, he was sent back to Saint-Étienne for one season, then he returned to France to play for Nice in January 2021 and ahead of this current season he was sent to Marseille to pick up first team minutes. However, due to Saliba’s reported potential and promise as a young player, Arsenal fans have often wondered why he has struggled to break into Mikel Arteta’s first team and why the club have instead spent fortunes on new defenders. Such as the signing of Ben White from Brighton for £53 million in the summer transfer window.
‘He left before an error’ – Henry lambasts Arsenal’s treatment of Saliba
Henry, who played for Arsenal from 1999 to 2007 and was a team mate of Arteta’s, has also struggled to understand the club’s strategy with Saliba’s development. And has now come out with some harsh words in regards to how Arsenal have treated the young player over the past three years. “They didn’t even let him make a mistake,” the Arsenal legend told Amazon Prime. “He left before an error. He didn’t even have the chance to compete for his place. What he is doing here is extraordinary. He was rewarded with a selection for the France team.
“Now he belongs to Arsenal, I don’t know where he will end up. We have seen that it was a little difficult for him to express himself on the subject. What I know is that he could have been in the Arsenal group. I am not Mikel Arteta, but I found it difficult for him. Anyway, he responded well and that’s the most important thing.”
Arsenal return or move to Marseille? Saliba has options this summer
Such frustrations over the defender’s time at Arsenal are clearly not only held by Henry, with the player himself admitting that he could seriously consider a departure from the London club in the summer transfer window. Saliba has been heavily linked with a permanent move to Marseille but would likely cost a substantial fee, due to his contract length running until 2024.
Saliba, Aubameyang & Co. – Arsenal’s record signings
“My wish is to finish well, to leave on a good note in case I don’t come back anymore, but I try not to think too much about my future, otherwise I’m less focused on the games,” the 21-year-old said before Marseille’s 3-0 home defeat to Lyon on Sunday. “I’d be happy to come back here, no matter what. It’s Marseille, it’s my club.”
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