A former Gunners defender says there may be nonetheless a spot open for his fellow countryman at Geoffroy Stadium if he decides to go away north London
William Saliba has been inspired to return to France by Mathieu Debuchy, who says the Arsenal outcast could be welcome again at Saint Etienne this winter.
Saliba signed for Arsenal from Saint Etienne in a £27 million ($36m) deal in July 2019, and subsequently returned to Geoffroy Stadium on mortgage for a remaining season.
The 19-year-old lastly joined up together with his new team-mates on the Emirates Stadium this summer time, however has since failed to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.
The Frenchman continues to be awaiting his full debut for the Gunners, together with his meagre 5 outings for the membership so far coming with the Beneath-23s.
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Saint Etienne sought to re-sign the Frenchman on mortgage earlier than the final switch deadline, however a remaining deal by no means got here to fruition, and he has thusly been pressured to proceed accepting a task on the sidelines behind the likes of David Luiz, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes and Shkodran Mustafi.
The Ligue 1 outfit are, nevertheless, being tipped to reignite their curiosity in a former talisman when the January window opens, with membership captain Debuchy, who took in a spell on the Emirates himself between 2014 and 2018, admitting the staff has been weaker since his departure.
“I’m certain within the present state we want two or three gamers to finish this squad,” the ex-Arsenal full-back advised Telefoot. “Whether or not it’s in defence and maybe additionally in assault. I belief the coach to offer these options.
“William… we all know his qualities. He was very spectacular at Saint Etienne.
“Sadly for him at Arsenal the beginning didn’t go the best way he wished it to, I believe. There may be William, there may be Wesley [Fofana], these are two defenders who left us and who did extremely effectively so it was loss.
“If William desires to return again this winter he will probably be welcome and he can have the benefit of figuring out the staff.”
Saliba will seemingly be absent as soon as once more when Arsenal play host to Wolves this weekend, the place Arteta’s males will probably be keen to construct on a powerful 3-0 win away at Molde within the Europa League on Thursday.
The Gunners have slipped to twelfth within the Premier League standings after 9 fixtures, and have been held to a 0-0 draw by newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Street final trip.
Saint Etienne, in the meantime, are set to welcome Lille to Geoffroy Stadium on Sunday as they search to place a ways between themselves and the underside three in Ligue 1 after a poor begin to the season.
