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The future of the defender is with Arsenal, according to the Arsenal boss. The defender joined the Gunners in 2019 for £27million but has yet to feature for the Premier League side.
The 21-year-old had a standout Ligue 1 campaign with Marseille as the French club secured Champions League football.
It culminated with the star defender being named Young Player of the Year and earning a spot in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year as his loan move looks to have paid off.
It certainly is a positive sign that the Gunners boss wants a player who many thought to be lost to another club. So many times this season, fans have been vocal on social media regarding Arsenal’s defence and hinted that Saliba would walk into the starting line-up.
Despite him being raw at the time, the 21-year-old was sent out on loan to get the necessary experience and continuity in his game (he played 36 league games and six Europa League matches) that he would not get at the Emirates. To say the move has been a success would be an understatement.
Saliba shines for Marseille
Throughout the Ligue 1 campaign, Saliba stood out like a sore thumb. His passing, defending, and leadership of the Marseille defence were superb. As an Arsenal player, you have to be good with the ball at your feet; Saliba completed 93% of his passes. On top of that, he is a superb tackler, completing 88% of his tackles.
There is a strong desire to have Saliba back at the Emirates next season, but the player has publicly stated that he wants to stay at Marseille.
There is a lot to play out regarding the defender’s future with Arsenal. Arteta wants him, and the fans desperately want him, but the lure of playing next season for Marseille could prove decisive. Saliba is an Arsenal player at the time of writing, but we know how quickly things can change in football, and it would be a travesty should the club lose such a talent.