Marseille boss makes big prediction about Arsenal loanee William Saliba

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Arsenal defender William Saliba has been superb on loan at Marseille so far.

The Gunners centre-back has yet to make a senior appearance under Mikel Arteta, but he’s won fans at every club he’s actually played at.

Arsenal signed Saliba from Saint-Etienne – where he was a huge fan favourite – in the summer of 2019.

The Gunners loaned the 20-year-old back for the remainder of the season, going on to reach the French Cup final.

Saliba then arrived at the Emirates Stadium last summer, but he was on the move once again the following January.

The Frenchman spent the second half of 2020-21 at Nice, where he made 22 competitive appearances.

Now, Saliba is on loan at Marseille, where he has played the full 90 minutes in five Ligue 1 games.

His efforts have helped the Olympians go second in the table.

Jorge Sampaoli, the French club’s head coach, hailed his loan signing ahead of the side’s clash with Angers.

“He’s a top player at his position. We were lucky to get him on loan, it wasn’t simple,” Metro quotes him as saying.

“He’s great at marking, but good bringing the ball out too – he’s a future great of French football, he’s very good at starting plays.

“He’s adapted to a three at the back well, and his performances are linked to the team’s, which likes to play from the back.”