Arsenal are expected to keep William Saliba this summer so he can compete for a place in the first team, according to Football.London‘s Chris Wheatley:
William Saliba will return to Arsenal in July where he will get an opportunity to impress in pre-season.
He isn’t for sale and won’t be leaving #AFC this summer. ? #Saliba
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) May 27, 2021
It was reported in Germany yesterday that Bayer Leverkusen are interested in signing the 20-year-old, with suggestions he could be used in a swap deal for Edmond Tapsoba.
However, it appears Saliba won’t be going anywhere in the coming months and supporters on Twitter are very happy that the £27m signing will be given a chance by manager Mikel Arteta:
Best news in a while
— ZANYPAUL (@Xannypaul) May 27, 2021
Get in!
— Alex.AFC (@Alex_AFC10) May 27, 2021
I really needed to hear this
— ًkevin (@Sxlibol) May 27, 2021
He should be starting every game for us next season
— Lukman Ali (@lukmanali1221) May 27, 2021
— Tony (@AmtaSound) May 27, 2021
Good news
— HassanSami (@Gooner96114492) May 27, 2021
Amazing news, he’s going to level up our RCB spot and claim that this season.
— AubamaWhoo (@aubama_whoo) May 27, 2021
English football ain’t ready ❤️?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/RrqLL0CDNn
— Stefan (@stefanthefam) May 27, 2021
Arteta always said that Saliba needed another year of first-team football before he was ready for the Gunners and, after featuring 22 times for Nice during the second half of last season, that should be sufficient game time for him to come back and make an impression.
Links with other centre-backs in recent months have placed doubts on whether Saliba would be given an opportunity but it appears he will become a first-team player next campaign.