Arsenal: William Saliba expectations sadly high

William Saliba is currently spending the year on loan. But when he returns to Arsenal next summer, the expectations will undoubtedly be high. And that might not be a good thing.

Arsenal were desperate for a centre-back in the summer transfer window. In an ideal world, they would have signed a world-class defender to immediately improve the heart of the defence. As is well known now, that is not what happened.

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In an effort to ‘outsmart the market’, which was largely driven by the Gunners’ limited finances, the club undertook a rather inventive investment process in a new centre-half. Rather than sign an established name for an explosive fee, they undercut their rivals and focused on signing young prospects before they had developed to a level beyond both price and reputation range.

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This led to 18-year-old Saint-Etienne central defender William Saliba agreeing terms with Arsenal. He only broke into the first team last season and had extremely limited senior experience, but was highly touted throughout European football, largely viewed as one of the most talented young defenders in world football. Next summer, after another year of first-team action, he might be too expensive and too high-calibre for the Gunners to viably sign him. So they took a risk and went a year early.

There was only one caveat to the deal. St. Etienne refused to sell Saliba without a clause in his contract that meant he would return to the French club for another season on loan. Initially, Arsenal were very much against the suggestion, keen to use Saliba from the moment they signed him. However, it quickly became clear that this clause was non-negotiable, and so, begrudgingly, they agreed to it.

This means that Saliba will not truly arrive in north London until next summer. And when he does, expectations will unquestionably be extremely high. Whether he has an encouraging year at St. Etienne or not, fans will go overboard in their hopes for his time at the Emirates. He was £26 million at the age of 18, after all.

But while these expectations are justified given the price paid and the renowned talent of the player, they are not hugely helpful. It is difficult for any player to deal with the increased demands of a high price tag. Just ask Nicolas Pepe. But for someone who is moving to a new country, adapting to a new league and team, and at just 19 years of age, it is extremely challenging, and could be suffocating.

Saliba was a long-term signing. Thrusting a short-term gaze onto his performances, which is obviously what will happen when he arrives at the Emirates next season, is not ideal and misses the point of the transfer in the first place. Saliba is meant to be Arsenal’s solution to the centre-back position for the next decade, not just next season. So if he struggles on, while not ideal, it does not mean he cannot fulfil the aim of the transfer.

But the expectations that are placed on his shoulders and his performance will beget criticism, if he falls short of them. And that, for a young player, could be disastrous. Let’s hope, then, that fans can show more patience than usual.