‘Didn’t know he was so good’: Arsenal star can’t believe who Arteta loaned out

Follow us on Google Discover

Is William Saliba starting for Arsenal against Crystal Palace tomorrow night?

Well, that’s the question all Gunners will be asking ahead of their club’s Premier League opener away to their London rivals on Friday evening.

Despite joining Arsenal three years ago, Saliba still hasn’t made a competitive appearance for the North Londoners.

However, the 21-year-old, who has two excellent loan spells away from the Emirates Stadium, is back now and based on his pre-season performances under Mikel Arteta, he could be a big player this season.

Saliba was loaned to Marseille in Ligue 1 last season.

And Albert Sambi Lokonga, who joined Arsenal during the summer of 2021, has admitted that he was surprised to see Arteta loan him out for the 2021-22 campaign, admitting that he didn’t realise the towering France international was as good as he is.

He told The Counter Attack Podcast on YouTube: “I didn’t know he was so good. When I saw him for the first time I said wow, he is really really good! So I was surprised Arsenal let him go on loan and he didn’t play.”

Is William Saliba starting for Arsenal tomorrow?

Likened to a Bentley by former Arsenal hitman Kevin Campbell last week, Saliba certainly oozes class and it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares against Palace tomorrow.

That is, assuming he plays, of course.

It’s very possible that Arteta will continue with what he knows, a centre-back pairing of Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes in defence, but Saliba has been waiting for this opportunity since 2019 and barring a surprise, he’ll get it.