William Saliba (2)

[Salibatelli]

He has a decision to make now. Marseille are in the CL Arsenal aren’t.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

Congrats to him. Top player who we will now have to bend backwards to extend.

...aand I was right.

Integrating him was possible, if difficult, if we had CL as Marseille do.

But now we're back to no CL, meanwhile he and Guendouzi played every minute in multiple competitions to earn a 2nd place finish and guaranteed CL. Why would he want to come back to win Arteta's favour, when Arteta himself has done worse than Emery, the manager who actually signed him?

Plus he will have Guendouzi and Kolasinac advising him about working with Arteta, and none of it's going to be good.

[Ach]

Apparently wants to stay with Marseille. Unsurprising.

Won young player of the year, been brilliant and helped them in to the CL

Or go back to the club and management who have completely mismanaged him and his good friend guendouzi and aren't in the CL

Only question is do we pay him off to leave?

[jayramfootball]

Apparently wants to stay with Marseille. Unsurprising.

Won young player of the year, been brilliant and helped them in to the CL

Or go back to the club and management who have completely mismanaged him and his good friend guendouzi and aren't in the CL

Only question is do we pay him off to leave?

Why would we pay him off to leave?
He has 2 years on his contract.
If people want him they will need to pay for him.
It's like I said, we created a win / win here

[Marsbar100]

We have the 8th best defense, if saliba was here maybe it would have been better

[jayramfootball]

We have the 8th best defense, if saliba was here maybe it would have been better

With the injuries we had, better depth would have indeed made it better... for sure.
Then again, he'd have been a back up and not got anywhere close to the exposure he got playing in a league that was easier for him to shine in.
He either comes back to challenge himself at PL level or he doesn't ... if the latter then we're going to get a good transfer fee. TBH I doubt Marseille is an option for him. They won't be able to afford him unless they have some players not named Guendouzi or Kolasinac they can throw into the deal.

Maybe £20m + Kamara or £20m + Gueye (if he overcomes his suspension issues)
Actually Kamara might even be out of contact, so Saliba for £20m + Gueye and sign Kamara anyway on a free.
Options.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

We have the 8th best defense, if saliba was here maybe it would have been better

Dear God, you're right. Wolves, Brighton and Palace have conceded less than us. I didn't think it was that bad. Even I've been fooled by the Arteta improved the defense PR.

[Ach]

Might need another 150m on the defence

[Power n Glory]

We have the 8th best defense, if saliba was here maybe it would have been better

Dear God, you're right. Wolves, Brighton and Palace have conceded less than us. I didn't think it was that bad. Even I've been fooled by the Arteta improved the defense PR.

Yeah, I was surprised when looking at it further as well. Wenger had the stigma of not being able to coach a defence but he hardly conceded as many goals as we have this season. Even in the shambolic years, it was hardly this bad.

[Arsenal Tone]

Might need another 150m on the defence

We need better cover for all four positions. We need two versatile players so that Tavares and Holding can be the 7th and 8th choice with the other six being able to be rotated. Saliba (or equivalent) and a right back who can cover CB (#12 below):

[Nuggets]

Arsenal dealt a massive blow as William Saliba 'decided he does not want to return to the club the centre-back landed the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and has played 52 times across all competitions. However, the tactical genius does not rate him.

[jayramfootball]

Might need another 150m on the defence

We need better cover for all four positions. We need two versatile players so that Tavares and Holding can be the 7th and 8th choice with the other six being able to be rotated. Saliba (or equivalent) and a right back who can cover CB (#12 below):

I am happy with Tavares as cover for Tierney. He showed enough in that first stint that he can be atop player.
Agree we need better cover for the other 3 positions.
Soares and Holding can never be options for a team trying to move towards a title challenge.

[swipe right]

Marseille be playing champions league football next summer. Let’s see… sit on the bench at Arsenal or play champions league football? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

[Nuggets]

Marseille be playing champions league football next summer. Let’s see… sit on the bench at Arsenal or play champions league football? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Yup is a tough choice, stay with a club that wants him and respects him also play against the very best in Europe OR sit on the bench for a clown who doesn't rate him and ostracised him in the past. Its a hard choice.

[Arsenal Tone]

Sell him and bring in Kossounou