‘You can’t’: Gabby Agbonlahor stunned by William Saliba and Arsenal rumours

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Gabby Agbonlahor says Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal simply can’t afford to let William Saliba leave amid contract issues and transfer talk that PSG are keen on the centre-back.

The former Aston Villa striker added that Arsenal ‘can’t afford’ to let William Saliba go and they need to offer the possible ‘£250k-a-week’ wages he wants, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast (31/05/23 at 6:20 am).

The problem facing Arsenal is that PSG are showing interest in the 22-year-old, who has 12 months left to run on his current contract at the Emirates.

Saliba first joined the north London club back in 2019 when Unai Emery was in charge. At the time, he was a fresh-faced teenager still trying to make a name for himself.

The ball-playing defender spent several loan spells away from the club, before he was handed his senior debut this season.

As Agbonlahor mentioned, Saliba has been ‘outstanding’ in his first full season in Arsenal colours and he is the closest thing he has seen to Rio Ferdinand.

“Oooh,” reacted Agbonlahor to the Saliba rumours. “You can’t let Saliba go. You can’t! Holding onto them (the big players is a sign of a big club).

“There is talk that they (Arsenal) are offering him £120k-a-week. 120 isn’t enough. Saliba’s agent will be like ‘good one…PSG?!’. But Saka has done it in more seasons. Can you go from £40k-a-week to £200-250k-a-week? Arsenal are going to have to.

“If PSG are lurking, then they will say ‘we will give you £250k-a-week’. Arsenal can’t mess around. He is in my Team of the Year. When I watch him, he was outstanding. Good on the ball. Technical. Quick. He is the closest to Rio Ferdinand that I have seen.

“Just give him the money. Arsenal can’t afford to play these games. I know it’s going to sting you. Look how bad they were without him.”

ARSENAL SHOULD DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP SALIBA

The proof is in the pudding. Whilst fans will have many reasons behind Arsenal’s title collapse towards the back end of the season.

One reason behind why they stumbled was Saliba missing the last few months through injury.

That was enough proof of how important the France international is to the Gunners, who have to do everything to keep hold of their best defensive player and secure his long-term future.