‘What a quality player he is’: Keown raves about 20-year-old who hasn’t even played for Arsenal yet

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Arsenal legend Martin Keown is hoping that William Saliba will be given a chance at the Emirates when he returns from his loan spell next season.

The Frenchman was signed by Unai Emery in 2019 but he’s yet to play a single competitive game for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta did not believe that he was ready, which is why he was shipped out on loan to Marseille at the start of the season.

Saliba has impressed in France. He has been one of Les Phoceens’ best players since the start of the season and Arsenal fans are desperate to see him back at the Emirates next year.

Keown was quizzed about Saliba and the Englishman believes there is room for him in the side, despite the fact that Arteta already has Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes as first-choice starters.

Martin Keown: William Saliba is a quality player

He said about Saliba in an interview with The Mirror: “He’s come in at a difficult time when there were a lot of managers in a short space of time. I don’t see that necessarily as a problem. It’s about bringing him back in and him still believing he is an Arsenal player.

“That message will come from the manager. This season will be really good for him, we can see what a quality player he is. Hopefully, he gets another chance to prove he can play in that first team.”

Asked if he will be in Arteta’s plans next term, Keown added: “You would like to think so. That needs to be the ideal situation for the manager that he has a difficult job picking that back four where. It seems like Gabriel and White are the main two, but Saliba is doing exceptionally well.

“It will be healthy if he comes back and creates competition and gives tough decisions for the manager. The top clubs have that, look at Man City with Laporte, Diaz and Stones. That’s why they are the current Premier League champions.”

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Saliba definitely deserves a chance at Arsenal. He is one of the best young defenders in Europe at the moment and his performances for Marseille, even against the big sides, have been really impressive.

White and Gabriel are Arteta’s undisputed first-choice starters at the back and that will not change. However, if Arsenal continue their current form until the end of the season, they will get back in Europe, which will open the door for Saliba to get a chance.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the summer. Arsenal fans are already unhappy with Arteta’s treatment of Saliba, but considering how well he has played for Marseille, almost every supporter is convinced that he’ll be given a chance next year.