Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told Football London that he still hasn’t decided the best course of action with William Saliba in the January transfer window.
Saliba has struggled for game time since arriving at Arsenal in the summer, with the centre-back being overlooked regularly.
Despite Arsenal suffering with a raft of injuries at the back, Saliba has not yet been given a chance to make his Premier League debut.
The 19-year-old was even left out of the Gunners’ Europa League squad, which shows just how far down the pecking order he is right now.
Arteta has now suggested that Arsenal will need to make a decision over whether to loan Saliba out in January, and he will be sitting down to discuss the best move with the player soon.
“Well, I don’t know,” Arteta said, when asked if Saliba will be granted a temporary move in January.
“We certainly tried in the last few days of the transfer window to find the right club and we had him, but at the end of the day we could not make it and we will review the situation in the next few weeks and sit down with him as well and see what is the best thing to do.
“But it will depend on him and other players’ situations as well.”
Saliba’s exclusion from Arsenal’s team has been a major surprise as there was great excitement around his arrival.
Many Gunners fans expected Saliba to play a key role almost immediately upon arriving, but Arteta has been far more cautious with the prospect.
French news outlet But Football Club say that Saliba is growing increasingly frustrated with his situation at Arsenal, and is majorly keen on a return to St. Etienne on loan.
Most of Saliba’s game time so far has come with Arsenal’s under-23 side, and if that is to continue to be the case, then sending him out on temporary spell may be the best option for both player and club.
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