Arsenal confirm William Saliba departure for third season

Posted Friday, July 16, 2021 by 101 GREAT GOALS

Saliba's rocky Arsenal career

William Saliba joined Arsenal to much acclaim and fanfare as an 18-year-old who had excelled in France.

However, the Frenchman is yet to make his competitive debut for Arsenal, and has now departed on a third successive loan. Having spent a season at Saint-Etienne, and six months at OGC Nice, Saliba will now join Marseille for the 2021-22 season.

At just 20 years old, it is clear that Arsenal do not want to throw Saliba straight into their backline, with Brighton's Ben White being targeted as an option at centre-back.

Is it the end of the road?

However, there is clearly a plan for the Frenchman's development, with Technical Director Edu Gaspar explaining:

"Together with William, we have decided it will be good for his continued development to spend another season on loan. William joined us as an 18-year-old, and he is still only 20, so he is still developing all the time.

"William is a player with strong natural ability and next season has the potential to be really beneficial for him at Marseille, a good club. To play another season in Ligue 1 will be very important for his development. We will of course be keeping in close contact with William during the season and wish him all the best in France with Marseille."

[Quotes taken from Arsenal.com]

Thankfully for Gunners fans, the deal comes with no option to buy, something which had previously been touted as a possibility. Saliba will take the number two shirt in France for the duration of his loan spell.

Will he come back to stake his claim at the heart of Arsenal's defence?