Arsenal can’t afford to make Saliba another Guendouzi
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
- 3 min read
Arsenal will lose Matteo Guendouzi to Marseille following a loan spell this summer, but they cannot allow William Saliba to follow the same pathway.
Both Gunners have shone at Stade Velodrome since moving there on loan last summer, and now OM are set to announce that Guendouzi will become their player on a full-time basis.
RMC reports that a deal has already been agreed that will see the France international star join on a three-year contract, having fallen out of favour at Arsenal.
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Saliba, meanwhile, has yet to make his senior debut with the Gunners after joining in 2019. His first season was spent on loan at Saint-Etienne, while the latter half of his second term saw him move to Nice after being frustrated with his lack of opportunities. Now he finds himself at Marseille.
His lack of opportunities at Arsenal have come as a surprise to many fans, who have seen him perform well in France.
Similarly, he started this season brilliantly for OM, and while he has gone off the boil a little in recent weeks, that is in common with a squad that is not hitting the heights it once was.
Nevertheless, But! reports that he is in line for a new Arsenal contract,
Saliba is one for the future
Indeed, leading data analytics company SciSports predicts that Saliba has the potential to develop into a “key player” for Arsenal.
Of the current players on Arsenal’s books who are under the age of 21, only Bukayo Saka is reckoned to have more potential than Saliba.
Arsenal's biggest 5 prosects
| Name | Position | SciSkill Potential |
| Bukayo Saka | RW | 147.2 |
| Emile Smith Rowe | AM | 124.8 |
| William Saliba | CB | 122.2 |
| Ben White | CB | 121.7 |
| Martin Odegaard | AM | 120.7 |
Even extending that beyond players who are so young, only Emile Smith Rowe has the potential to reach greater heights than the 20-year-old.
It is worth noting, however, that SciSports presently believe that there are several centre-back options on Arsenal’s books who are presently stronger than Saliba. Ben White is most notable among these, while Gabriel, the other starter, is also presently stronger than the on loan man.
As such, it looks a good move from Arsenal’s performance that they allowed Saliba to leave on a temporary basis – they just need to make sure they get him back!
