William Saliba has congratulated Matteo Guendouzi on his Instagram story after the loaned-out Arsenal player scored his first goal for France on Tuesday night.
The World Champions thrashed South Africa 5-0 in a friendly encounter in Paris, with Kylian Mbappe’s bursting run down the left resulting in the PSG star pulling the ball back for Guendouzi, who let the ball roll onto his right foot, before curling his effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Nonetheless, Saliba, who started the game in a back three, posted on his IG story: ‘Congrats bro on your first Blue goal’.
The manner in which Mikel Arteta has handled both Saliba and Guendouzi has caused a lot of debate between the Arsenal fans.
But, as the north London club’s current situation suggests, they are calls that are proving to be correct.
It doesn’t seem as though Guendouzi will don the Arsenal colours again, even though he has taken his game to another level at Marseille.
But those at the Emirates should be looking forward to the return of Saliba and the ball-playing centre-back finally making his first senior appearance.
It’s amazing that he earned his first cap for France, yet he still hasn’t played for the Gunners.
But that just shows the development he has made to his game and it will be interesting to see how he will be used next term.
Arteta mainly likes to deploy a flat back four, with Ben White and Gabriel, who have been outstanding in their Champions League chase, his main men at the back.
Whilst Rob Holding is the back-up, in truth, someone like Saliba adds more quality, so slowly but surely, this Arsenal side is starting to build up to serious heights.
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