Arsenal: William Saliba doesn’t buy the “power shift” nonsense either

William Saliba supposedly had a sneak bid from Tottenham right as Arsenal were wrapping it up, but no worries, because Saliba doesn’t buy the nonsense either.

Arsenal haven’t had a lot of luck this transfer window, but the ongoing saga of William Saliba does appear to be a blip of good news, even if we do have to loan him right back and not pay until next summer.

But as the rumors go, apparently Tottenham went all sneaky-sneaky and lodged a bid for Saliba while the Gunners were flying to America for the preseason tour. Which threw a wrench into the situation, but a wrench that was stuffed away pretty quickly.

Because William Saliba is said to be undaunted by the bid from Tottenham, and is still opting to join up at the Emirates, either this year or next year, we won’t know until the deal is officially signed.

There is a certain satisfaction behind this, but one that I don’t necessarily want to celebrate too hard, simply because it’s a small thing, but big enough that I wanted to draw attention to it.

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No matter what the media narrative wants to tell you about a power shift in North London, it just isn’t true. And when you see young players choosing one over the other—consistently—you can see why that’s the case. I also think of Nabil Fekir, who downright rejected a move to Tottenham in favor of holding out for his move to Liverpool, or a move to the Emirates.

Spurs may have finished above us for a few years running now, but a few years of finishing above someone does not a better team make, no matter what you might here. Even if they won the title next year, which won’t happen, there still wouldn’t be a power shift. Because you don’t dominate another team for an entire life time and have that turned around in a handful of years. That isn’t how life works, nor is it how football works.

Just like how Manchester City aren’t suddenly a bigger club than Manchester United. You don’t undo history by blipping the radar. And Spurs haven’t even blipped the radar the same as City have.

Anyway, you know the drill, and it’s a great start to what figures to be a prolific career for William Saliba. He’s already making smart decisions off the pitch, now we just have to see that translate on the pitch.