Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up on his 'tricky' relationship with William Saliba ahead of the huge clash against Liverpool on Sunday.
Saliba has been a standout performer for the Gunners and been key in helping them stay at the top of the Premier League table after eight games. The French defender has been compared to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk due to his composed presence, physical stature and ability on the ball in defence.
The 21-year-old spent the last three seasons out on loan after arriving at the Emirates Stadium in a £27million deal from Ligue 1 outfit Saint Etienne, and is now showing his quality as a starting centre-back for Arsenal. The Gunners are keen to tie Saliba down to a new long-term contract with his current deal set to expire in 2024, as rival clubs begin to ramp up their interest in the talented defender.
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Speaking to SkySports ahead of the clash against Liverpool on Sunday, Arteta discussed his relationship with Saliba and the decision to send him out loan for the past three seasons. The Arsenal boss said: "I am really pleased, at many moments I was concerned.
"It was really tricky the way the relationship was established after brining him [Saliba] in and then sending him out on loan, because it was part of the deal. He came back, we [the club] didn't think he was ready so we sent him back out on loan.
"A player with that potential and had that recognition already, externally, how that was going to affect our relationship. We believed that that period was going to benefit him much more than staying here.
"As soon as we saw some signals as to what he can do, there was no doubt he was a player for us. He was really humble and determined to say: 'okay, I can put that aside, I understand and now it's time to perform here'. He's been exceptional."
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