Mikel Arteta has praised William Saliba as the defender looks set to become part and parcel of the first team this season.
The young Frenchman was impressive in action during the 4-0 win over Chelsea in Orlando last night, and the Arsenal boss was asked specifically about him after the game.
“I am really pleased to see the way he is playing, the way he has adapted to the team, the maturity that he’s shown at 21-years-old, carry on doing it,” he said.
“We will keep developing him, he has a huge potential, he is already a top player and we have to make him even better.”
The decision to send him on loan last season was a contentious one among many Arsenal fans, but Arteta’s messaging re: Saliba has always been consistent – insisting that the move was made with the player’s and Arsenal’s best interest at heart.
An outstanding campaign for Marseille last season saw him break through to the French national side, and he has returned to North London a more experienced, better developed player, and one who is ready to compete with our existing central defensive options.
“He looks ready to me,” said Arteta in reply to a question if Saliba was ready for Premier League action, and he’s a player Arsenal fans will be looking forward to seeing in competitive action as soon as possible.
I can’t be the only one to see a bit of VVD in him can I?
Not only you. The calmness, the recovery pace, and sheer size — the similarities are much.
Let’s hope he doesn’t complete the look by growing that ridiculous man bun
I’m salibating at the thought.
It’s been said before by a coach who’s worked with both of them. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I think he’ll comfortably surpass White. We need to make sure we keep this guy.
I think with qualities, White can be a very good DM. However, as of now he looks in danger of losing out his starting spot.
Congratulations to Emery and Raul for bringing this boy to the club and congratulations to the player for convincing Arteta.
If Arteta had accepted him sooner, probably the £50m conundrum brewing would have been avoided.
There is the real possibility of White having to play backup to Saliba.
How, exactly, is that a bad thing?
We need to stop thinking about only having a strong 11 if we want to get back to the summit of the league.
They drive you up the fucking wall, don’t they?
I watched all the pre-season games. Saliba did look immense. Specially one on one, I think he is probably already one of the best in the league. His recovery speed is so good as well. Only one thing that he may need improving is probably his first touch and passing ability. I only seem to remember him passing to the RB and his CB partner most times. Also some short passes to the closest DM. That’s where White has an advantage. He can play those diagonal ball to the left wing and also the through balls to our strikers or… Read more »
John Stones?
ARTETA OUT!
Mate, it’s a squad game now. Mix n match dot com.
I cannot for the life of me understand why so many of you don’t get it……?
Yay! What a player. He is ready for sure and I hope he signs now for the next six years.
Tell, athletic, good feet, intelligent.
Would love him to be playing for us fir many years.
Decent result last night!
You know he is good when some normally pretty rivals on Twitter are starting to say good things about him!
God bless the people who swooped in after that first season with St. Etienne and brought him here, because it’s scary what he would be like with more experience.
Fingers crossed his best days would be spent in the famous Red and White!
Watched the game.. and saliba looked the part…having him as an option at the back will be a blessing …
Exciting times! 👊🤞
We will be the team to beat this season! And I pray we don’t sell any current first team player without bringing a proper replacement. Than 2023/24 season will be ours to grab. COYG!
I don’t know about being the team to beat, but we will be no pushovers, especially if we sign a Tielemans.
Top 4 is going to be a real battle this season, and we are well primed for it.
It might only be a pre season match but it still matters, it wasn’t against some tuppenny hapenny team, it was against a title rival who have spent a great deal on new players this season, and we walloped them! And I am not worried about the back four and Tomi and Kierans injuries because we have enough strength in depth now to field a great back four whilst they come back properly from their injuries. At some point we need a really good back up for Tomi but that is a post for another day. Would still like another… Read more »
Let’s see how Norton-Cuffy develops next season, he might have the potential to be Tomi’s understudy in the future. For now White is a good enough alternative, and this Gabriel-Saliba pair looks very promising!
Marquinhos looked smart with the ball. He may get some minutes to show his talent in cup games. So, I doubt unless someone really good comes in, we will probably stay put with what we have.
Nice one, Bill. 👍
The LANSest of all LANSes I’ve ever seen.
Like A New Saliba
When Sol Campbell signed for us I just knew that he was going to fucking OWN the Premiership.
I’m getting the same vibe about this dude.
If, and it is an if, the reports that he’s signed a new deal are true, Edu and Arteta need some serious serious recognition
Even without a new deal being signed I’d say Arteta and Edu are doing more than enough to get that recognition. Big respect to those guys.
Oh yeah, I absolutely agree, I more meant bespoke recognition with regards to how the Saliva situation has been turned around
Mate, if anyone see’s them out and about. Buy them a drink, the signings we’ve made in the last calendar year are all amazing.
Really looking forward to him and Gabi doing a number on Haaland and co.
The guy is a monster at such a young age. A really intimidating and authoritative presence. The sort you can imagine eventually being a captain. He may well usurp Ben White as the starting right sided centre back this season. The thought of facing Saliba and Gabriel will make a lot of strikers shit their pants.
You can just imagine an extremely strong right hand side of our central defense now added with Tomiyasu. The right side will be an impenetrable no go area to opposing teams. Unfortunately, the left hand side is not looking favorable either with a very fit Tierney.
He is so good and calm. Calmly very good.
Like if you loved the starting eleven!
Saliba was named young player of the year in Ligue 1. Remember that Tchouaméni also played in Ligue 1 last year.
I wouldnt trade him for any other CB there is. To be so good at 21 is just out of this world. So big and with that pace.
For the first time since 1979, we’ve got the biggest Willie! 😁
Saliba is a beast.i see Rudiger style of tackling and van dijk calmness.He doesn’t even talk on the pitch ,very matured.
White will fit in
Once opon a time at city
There was otamendi,company,stones, Mangala in the team.they all played
I am happy to have Saliba & White in our team. And, as it has been rightly pointed out by many, we need them both for this will be a very long season which involve many games. I see a very promising season ahead of us. CCOYG !!