Matteo Guendouzi has made a rallying-cry for Arsenal defender William Saliba to remain at Marseille next season…
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 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign with Marseille this term, playing the full 90 minutes in 36 of their 37 league games so far with the club on the brink of sealing Champions League qualification.
Like Saliba, Guendouzi is on loan at Marseille from Arsenal with an option to buy in his contract.
With the midfielder likely to remain at the Stade Veledrome beyond the summer, he hopes Saliba remains alongside him.
“I hope William stays here. He’s having a great season, he deserves everything that has happened to him,” Guendouzi said.
“He’s a great guy outside, he’s had a lot of great games.”
Both Saliba and Guendouzi were recently handed call-ups to the France national side for the upcoming round of UEFA Nations League matches.
Our thoughts….
In our opinion, Arsenal must offer William Saliba first-team assurances next season and include him as a vital part of their plans as he has proven this season that he has what it takes to cut it at the elite level.
The French colossus, dubbed “extraordinary” by his teammate, has also recorded the seventh-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. His defensive attributes have also shone through too, recording the tenth most interceptions (80) and the most successful pressures % of any player (46.8).
If Arsenal are to express more variation in the game next season, Saliba could prove a valuable option either in a conservative back-three or alongside either of Arteta’s two main options.
With the north London outfit short on quality options at the back, Saliba would prove a welcome and exciting addition to Arteta’s promising options next season, therefore the £21.6m-rated defender is a player the Gunners cannot afford to lose. Must not sell.
AND in other news, Arsenal plotting move for £13.5m-rated wing wizard, holds a hefty £51.3m release clause…