Martin Keown stunned by ‘bizarre’ reports emerging on Arsenal defender William Saliba

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Martin Keown has told TalkSPORT (Friday, 12.25am) that reports claiming William Saliba is set to leave Arsenal and join a Championship club on loan before October 16 are “bizarre”, given he was expected to be in and around the first team.

Saliba, 19, joined Arsenal little over a year ago for a fee of £27million (BBC) from French side St. Etienne. But the player immediately returned to Les Verts, where he has now played 36 times in all competitions.

He returned to Arsenal this summer and with the Gunners struggling at centre-back, they were expected to use Saliba regularly in order to plug the gap. But Mikel Arteta has seemingly decided that Saliba is simply not the answer for Arsenal.

Instead, he has spent big again to sign Gabriel from Lille – pushing Saliba down the pecking order. Goal claim Arsenal are in talks with numerous Championship clubs over a loan for Saliba, including Brentford, which has left Keown stunned.

“Bizarre, we’ve just not seen the kid,” Keown said. “We need to see him go out on loan to the Championship and hopefully we can see what he is all about. But to loan him out, when there was a problem in that area, seems a mystery.“

TBR’s view – Saliba needs game time and Championship is only option

Other windows around Europe remain open, Russia for example. But keeping him in England and under the watchful eye of Arsenal scouts and supporters will help Saliba. Brentford, who are linked, would be perfect for the defender.

Joining a team where he is guaranteed first-team game time on a regular basis, and a side that are renowned for playing possession-based football, is crucial. Saliba could shine for a team like Brentford.