Arsenal in William Saliba Disagreement Over Loan

Arsenal are at a crossroads with William Saliba’s future.

Reluctantly agreeing to loan William Saliba back to Saint-Etienne as per the terms of the Ligue 1 side’s demands, Arsenal were starved of the defender’s talents for 12 more months.

Excellent displays in the 2019/20 campaign had supporters purring, even more so when he made his first outing for the club in the pre-season win over MK Dons. Here we are now and he’s been left out of the Europa League squad, nowhere near the top-flight team and left to play Under-23’s football.

The situation is a total mess.

Numerous variables – some desperately sad – contributed to his slow integration, but with the 19-year-old playing weekly for the youth side, the £27m splashed out to bring him to north London looks more puzzling by the day.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, it looks increasingly likely he’ll depart for another loan move, this after attempts were made, and failed, to move him away temporarily at the end of the summer window. This is the cold hard reality at the moment. Regardless of how frustrating it is.

As per ESPN, the conclusion that Saliba needs to go out and play first team football elsewhere is agreed, although that’s where the agreements end. Arsenal staff would prefer that the centre-back remain in England and drop down a tier to the Championship, where he can get a better feel for football on the island and adjust to his surroundings.

Saliba on the other hand favours a move back to France, where both Saint-Etienne and Nice have expressed an interest. So, where is best for him?

Saliba Going Back to Ligue 1

It’s understandable that Saliba is most keen on going back to France. After the tumultuous period he’s had at Arsenal with professional and personal issues intertwined, wanting to see familiar faces in a comfortable environment is expected.

However, while that may be his preference, it is not the best move for his career.

The case Saliba may well make is that, firstly, he will be guaranteed regular football, especially at his former club, even if he may be in bad form. They love him as much as he loves them, a club who have absolute faith in his ability and personality.

Furthermore, his familiarity with the league and teammates mean there will be no bedding in period, something he may have to do twice in the space of six months since moving to Arsenal should he stay in England. Language comes into it, too.

Last of all, Ligue 1 is top-flight football. It may be classed as a ‘farmer’s league’, and the gulf in class between the top three or four and the rest of the division is vast, but you don’t get the likes of Neymar or Houssem Aouar in the Championship.

For the ‘transition year’ that Arteta wanted Saliba to undergo, the defender will back the better quality of opposition in France as the best place to begin his learning.

Arsenal disagree. Rightly so.

English Stay Best for Saliba?

Of all the points Saliba may argue for why going to Ligue 1 over staying in England is best for him, they all come with counterpoints that make for more logical reasoning.

While if he returned to Saint-Etienne there would be regular minutes, if he’s the player we’re informed he is, then there should be no reason why Championship clubs, who are actively seeking his signing, shouldn’t be inclined to play him every week. If he’s at the standard required, he’ll play.

Having familiarity with the French division to ease him settling in would be beneficial if his aim was to be playing there long-term. Well, that isn’t the goal at all. Internally and externally all associated with Arsenal want him to be a Premier League regular, so getting as much English experience, whether in a lower division or not, is preferable.

Ideally he’d be in and around the first team by now and not integrating into another setup, style of play and surroundings, but this is the state of affairs. Learning how football in this country works and improving his English, not taking his language development back a few steps, is what’s best.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1326212475876945920

Of course, the quality of the Championship isn’t on par with Ligue 1. There is a better calibre of players in France. What it doesn’t have on the second tier is the same level of competitiveness – games come thick and fast with victory never assured. Such an environment is better suited, not to mention both Saint-Etienne and Nice are having poor seasons this term.

Looking at the sides interested in Saliba, Watford and Brentford are two of the parties hoping to secure him temporarily, both of which wouldn’t require relocating. Even better, the Hornets’ training ground sits adjacent to London Colney. He needn’t even take a different drive to training.

Being close to him to monitor his progress and keep a direct line of communication is essential, which wouldn’t be an issue if he stayed in and around London. In a perfect world, a Premier League side would snap him up for six months. That isn’t the case and now a Championship move is the best of a bad scenario.