‘Look, why would you?’ Charlie Nicolas cannot believe what Arteta’s done at Arsenal

Follow us on Google Discover

Charlie Nicholas has questioned why Mikel Arteta loaned out William Saliba again in spite of the fact he has some ‘awful’ players at Arsenal.

The Gunners sent Saliba on loan to Marseille for the 2021-22 campaign, after the 20-year-old spent half of last season at Nice.

He spent the first half of last season out in the wilderness as Arsenal boss Arteta refused to use him in the Premier League, and omitted him from his Europa League squad.

Saliba joined the North Londoners for £27 million two years ago but, somewhat farcically, hasn’t played a single minute of competitive football for the club.

Arsenal have endured an abysmal start to the Premier League season, losing all three games and conceding nine goals along the way – failing to score even one.

And with the powerful centre-back impressing in France right now, Nicholas is as puzzled as anyone over Arteta’s decision to let him go, adding that a lot of supporters want to see the Spanish coach axed.

He told the Where’s Jeff podcast: “Look, why would you sign Saliba and then send him out on loan when you have awful defenders at the club? I think the fans already want him out. I think they will give him until Christmas but I think the fans have made up their mind.”

Is he right?

Yep, he absolutely is.

The agenda against Saliba has been truly baffling these past 12 months or so.

The youngster was on loan back at Saint Etienne when Arteta took the reins in December of 2019, but he returned last summer and even then, the former Manchester City assistant had no intention of using him.

You know things are messed up when Sead Kolasinac, a left-back, has managed more centre-back appearances than you, with the 28-year-old having a shocker in the 5-0 defeat by Manchester City last week.