Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has dropped his verdict on the club’s treatment of William Saliba.
Speaking to Marseille’s YouTube channel, Samir Nasri has offered thoughts on the situation of William Saliba. The Arsenal defender is currently on loan at Marseille until the end of the season, after twice being deemed surplus to requirements by Mikel Arteta in the summer.
Saliba has since gone from strength to strength at Marseille, thriving under the leadership of new coach Jorge Sampaoli. He was one of the team’s best performers when they contained the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to secure a point against Paris Saint-Germain last weekend.
The young Frenchman’s formidable defensive partnership alongside Duje Caleta-Car and Luan Peres has raised many eyebrows across Europe. In fact, recent reports even suggest that the Gunners are being pressured to cash in on the defender, as the player has no intention of continuing his career at the Emirates.
It barely comes as a surprise, as the young defender was grossly mistreated by Mikel Arteta over the past year. Saliba was not considered to be good enough for the Arsenal side twice by the Arsenal boss, who was not impressed with the player’s attitude in training and was, therefore, sent out on loan to Nice and Marseille in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
In a recent interview with Marseille’s YouTube channel, as cited by Tribal Football, former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has doubled down on Saliba’s rising stock, suggesting that the Frenchman is more than good enough and has everything he needs to thrive in the Premier League.
“He has all the qualities to play in the Premier League. He’s well built, quick, and a good passer of the ball too. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be in Arsenal’s team,” said Nasri, who had made 126 competitive appearances for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, playing against Arteta on many occasions.
It remains to be seen whether the growing criticism on Arsenal’s treatment of Saliba from fans and experts alike change the stance of the North London giants next season. There is no question that the Gunners will be in the market for defensive reinforcements next season, as the club looks to move on from the likes of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers.
