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William Saliba insisted he wanted to return to Marseille next season as the Ligue 1 club secured Champions League football.
THE LOWDOWN: IMPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN
The 21-year-old has been a first-team regular during his loan spell with Ligue 1 outfit Marseille this season, making 51 appearances across all competitions.
Saliba, however, is yet to make a senior appearance for the Gunners since his £30m move from Saint-Etienne in 2019 and his future at the Emirates Stadium remains uncertain.
The former Saint-Etienne man has enjoyed an impressive campaign, playing the full 90 minutes in 36 of their 37 league games so far with the club sealing Champions League qualification.
Arsenal missed out on Europe’s flagship competition for next season, despite their 5-1 demolition of Everton at the Emirates on the final day of the campaign, after Tottenham Hotspur won at Norwich City.
THE LATEST: WANT TO COME BACK
Speaking after Marseille’s emphatic 4-0 win over Strasbourg on Saturday, Saliba (via GFFN) said:
“I want to come back and play the Champions League. I have never played in it and I want to discover it here.”
The 21-year-old also spoke out about his future during a ceremony in Paris on Sunday, where he was given the award for young player of the 2021-22 season.
He said: “It’s an honour, a source of pride. I dedicate this trophy to my team-mates, my club and the supporters.
“Did I play my last match with Olympique de Marseille? I don’t know. The future will tell us.
“The most important thing is to confirm this good season by qualifying for the Champions League. Afterwards, we’ll see.”
THE VERDICT: DOUBLE BLOW
After missing out on a Champions League berth for next season, this recent statement given by the £21.6m-rated defender comes as a double blow to the Arsenal faithful.
Considering his remarkable ability and potential to become one of Europe’s leading centre-backs, the Frenchman could well have become a vital part of the Gunners’ side for many years to come.
Indeed, the French colossus, dubbed “extraordinary” by his teammate and former Gunners midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has enjoyed a sensational campaign at the Stade Veladrome picking up an impressive average score rating of 7.06 from SofaScore, becoming the fourth-best ranked player in the Marseille side.
Additionally, Saliba has also recorded the eighth-most passes into the final third (184) amongst all Ligue 1 players, the fifth-most progressive carries (243) and the most touches of any player (3351) showcasing that he is not afraid to dictate proceedings from deep.
The on-loan wonderkid’s defensive attributes have also shone through too, recording the tenth most interceptions (80) and the most successful pressures % of any player (46.8), making him one of Ligue 1’s most dominant and assured centre backs.
It is why Arsenal must do all they can to persuade him to stay at the Emirates. His all-round game could propel Mikel Arteta’s philosophy in north London to the next level in future. Do not sell.
AND in other news, “hope he stays”: Ex-Gunners ace issues rallying cry to Arsenal’s “extroadinary” on-loan colossus…
