William Saliba explains why he chose to move to Arsenal over Tottenham

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have completed the signing of William Saliba from Saint-Etienne, before loaning him back to the French club, as confirmed by the club’s official website.

In Saliba’s first interview as a Gunners player, reference was made to the fact Tottenham were involved in the transfer chase too, and he explained why he turned them down.

When asked why he chose Arsenal over Spurs, Saliba said: “Well, the history, the badge… since I was little, I’ve been watching Arsenal play in the Champions League and so on, and there are a lot of French players who have come through here. So that really helped me to make my mind up.”

Arsenal’s interest in Saliba appeared to be longer standing than Tottenham’s and it would have been a real slap in the face if Spurs had been able to come in and wrestle him away at the last minute.

But the history of French players with Arsenal looks to have influenced Saliba, as well as the Champions League experience he’s seen the Gunners have in days gone by.

Loaning Saliba back looks to have been the only way to get the deal done but the fact remains that the Gunners need a centre half for the here and now and that’s something which is still yet to be rectified.