Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing a dilemma over the future of William Saliba when he returns to the club in the summer.
The Frenchman has had an extraordinary loan spell with Marseille this season where he was handed his debut with the France national team and would want to be part of the France World Cup team later this year.
Saliba has missed just one Ligue One match under Jorge Sampaoli and has not given up on playing for Arsenal but Arteta has had Gabriel and White in the same position something that leaves him in a dilemma.
Arteta has always stood by the club’s decision to loan Saliba out once again, insisting the promising center-back is reaping the rewards of guaranteed first-team minutes but his stance might change after France legend Thierry Henry stirred the debate by stating that a judgment was passed on Saliba without being given a chance to prove his worth.
“They didn’t even let him make a mistake. He left before an error. He didn’t even have the chance to compete for his place. What he is doing here is extraordinary. He was rewarded with a selection for the France team,” Henry told Amazon Prime.
Saliba is entering the final two years of his contract, and will almost certainly need assurances over Arsenal’s plans for his development should he agree to extend this stay.
