Ach wrote:Asked if he saw Saliba's performance vs Kylian Mbappe and company Arteta said:
“Yes I did. We are always in touch. They went to see that game. Edu and Ben (Knapper) the loans coach were there to watch him and to keep a close eye on him and the progress they are making. Obviously he is our player and we do it with all the loan players we have.”
And will it be a battle to get in the team next season?
“That’s a decision we will make in the summer. He is our player and naturally that will happen but we have to sit down in the summer and decide what the best step is next.”
Words of a man who clearly knows he's made a mistake
Not when you look at our defensive record which has been one of the best in the league for over a year.
Right now, no way Saliba gets in our back 5.
He'll have to prove himself IF he gets in the squad in the summer.
Arteta:
on Saliba’s performance against PSG, and if he’s spoken to him since...
Yes we have been as a club always in touch. They went to see the game as well, Edu and Ben were there to watch him and to keep a close eye on him and the progress that he’s making. Obviously he’s our player and with all the loaned players that we have.
on if Saliba would have been in the squad against Leeds if he was here...
At the moment he’s there, and he played a different game that week, and this is it. He continues to do what he needs to do which is to play a lot of games and play them well.
on Saliba’s future with the club...
That’s a decision that we’ll make in the summer. Obviously he’s our player, and naturally that would happen, and we’d have to sit down and decide what the best step is next.
Personally, I think he'll be sold, mainly because he'll want guaranteed game time which he is not going to get at PL level.
