Martin Keown knows a thing or two about playing as a centre-back for Arsenal and therefore it should come as no surprise that his prediction on William Saliba from last year is starting to ring true.
The Gunners legend was in the minority back in November 2021 when he claimed that the way manager Mikel Arteta had handled Saliba since taking over as boss has worked out perfectly. Last term saw Saliba embark on a season-long loan to Marseille - the third time he left Arsenal on loan before ever kicking a ball in a competitive game for the club.
He shone in his native France and was crowned the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for his efforts. Before the turn of the calendar year, Keown tried to quash the idea that Arsenal had handled Saliba poorly up to that point.
"He's come in at a difficult time when there were a lot of managers in a short space of time," Keown explained, reminding fans that it was Unai Emery who purchased Saliba from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019.
"I don't see that necessarily as a problem. It's about bringing him back in and him still believing he is an Arsenal player. That message will come from the manager. This season will be really good for him, we can see what a quality player he is. Hopefully, he gets another chance to prove he can play in that first team."
Keown was then asked whether he felt Saliba could be integrated into the first-team fold this term, to which he replied: "You would like to think so.
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"It seems like Gabriel and [Benjamin] White are the main two, but Saliba is doing exceptionally well. It will be healthy if he comes back and creates competition and gives tough decisions for the manager."
Saliba has since returned to North London and was handed his Premier League debut away at Selhurst Park against a tricky Crystal Palace side on the opening night of the season. In a situation where lesser-players would have failed, Saliba was faultless and even named man of the match while earning Rio Ferdinand comparisons in the process.
The display was so impressive it has already led to calls for Saliba to be one of the first names on the team sheet moving forward this season at the expense of White, who was shifted into the right-back role at Selhurst Park. Who plays out of that young duo is Arteta's call. But, as Keown alluded to, it is not an easy one to make.
