There are very few things a football fan loves to see more than a young player getting a chance.
Arsenal have been brilliant when it comes to bleeding young players into the first-team in recent years. Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are stars after graduating from Hale End, while the Gunners’ summer recruitment policy focused largely on signing players for the future.
However, there is one highly-rated young player on the London club’s books that is yet to get a chance – William Saliba.
The French defender arrived at Arsenal in 2019 for a fee of £27m, but for one reason or another, he’s yet to make his debut.
However, there have been plenty of signs to show that the Frenchman deserves a chance at the Emirates.
For starters, he’s been shining out on loan for each of the last three seasons. Spells with St-Etienne, Nice and now Marseille have all been impressive, while his fitness coach has even gone as far as to compare him to Virgil van Dijk.
However, last week the Gunners received the biggest sign yet that Saliba needs a chance.
Indeed, the Frenchman was named on the 20-man European Golden Boy shortlist, putting him amongst the most talented young centre-backs on the planet.
He’s on this list alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Mason Greenwood and Jamal Musiala who are seen as European stars already, so why isn’t Saliba getting a chance at Arsenal?
You don’t get onto the Golden Boy shortlist if you’re not a special player, especially as a defender, and although it seems as though the decision-makers at Arsenal aren’t convinced about the Frenchman, the wider footballing world seems to be certain of his ability.
Perhaps this award nomination will make Arteta sit up and take notice of Saliba’s brilliance and give him a chance once he returns from Marseille.
Arsenal simply can’t afford to waste the talents of a European Golden Boy nominee.
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