Mikel Arteta ‘fed up’ over William Saliba’s Arsenal situation with ‘transition year’ still needed

Arteta understands the centre-back’s frustrations and has admitted he could now go on loan in January
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confessed he too is “fed up” with William Saliba’s situation after reports in France claimed the youngster was feeling that way and desperate to go on loan.

Saliba, who returned to Arsenal in the summer after spending last season on loan at Saint-Etienne, is yet to make his debut for the Gunners.

Arsenal feel the 19-year-old needs another year of experience after having his campaign last season disrupted by injury and Covid-19 cancelling Ligue 1, but they failed to loan him out this summer.

As a result, Saliba is simply training at Arsenal and reports in France earlier this week claimed he was fed up.

Arteta understands the centre-back’s frustrations and has admitted he could now go on loan in January.

“I am fed up with the situation because as you could see we tried to find a way in the last few days [of the transfer window] to give him some football,” said Arteta.

“I explained that he needed that transition year when we decided to buy him and send him on loan to Saint Etienne, for many reasons that didn’t happen, he didn’t have that transition year and he needs to go through that.

“At the moment, with the amount of central defenders that we have in the team we had to leave him out of the [Europa League] squad, which is painful because we have some injuries and we could have used him, but it’s part of this profession.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans

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“I don’t know [if he will definitely go on loan in January], we certainly tried in the last few days of the transfer window to find the right club and we had it, but at the end of the day we could not make it.

“We will review his situation in the next few weeks, sit down with him as well and see what is the best thing to do. But it will depend on him and other players’ situation as well.”

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