TBR View: Pablo Mari departing Arsenal would help William Saliba

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El Gol Digitial has claimed that former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is considering a raid on his former club for Pablo Mari – and that could be music to the ears of William Saliba.

The report suggests it could take just £4.3 million to take the Spaniard back to his homeland, with the centre-back struggling for game time.

Mari recently played in games against Manchester City, Leicester and Burnley but wasn’t in the squad for Sunday’s derby clash with Tottenham.

He has played just six games this season and it’d be no surprise if the Gunners decided to part with the 27-year-old in the summer.

That could see the door swing open for a player who many Arsenal fans should have been given a chance to shine already.

Saliba was loaned to Nice during the January transfer window, with many fans believing it was the wrong decision by Mikel Arteta.

The £40,000-a-week youngster is yet to make his Gunners debut but has played 12 times in Ligue 1 during his temporary spell away.

If Mari was to leave it would certainly enhance his chances of playing for the club on a more frequent basis next season.

Competition

David Luiz and Gabriel are currently the first choice pairing, with Rob Holding also at the club too.

Dinos Mavropanos will also return in the summer but it has to be said that Saliba’s stick is somewhat higher.

Arsenal spent £27 million on the 19-year-old from Saint-Etienne and surely he will make the step up next season.

Arteta hasn’t really fancied the young Frenchman just yet. If he allows Mari to leave, however, it could offer a big indication that Saliba will be involved more often during 2021/22.

That would delight the club’s supporters.