At long last, Arsenal fans are expected to finally get a glimpse of William Saliba this season - just over three years after the Gunners signed him for a £27million transfer fee.
Purchased by Unai Emery in the summer of 2019 before immediately being sent back out on loan to Saint-Etienne, Saliba has embarked on three separate loan spells while on the books in north London. It has led to criticism of current boss Mikel Arteta, who has faced accusations of exiling the young Frenchman for no reason.
Things hit a new low when Saliba spent last summer on loan back in France with Marseille, Arsenal splashed out £50million on a new centre-back in ex-Brighton star Benjamin White. To add insult to injury from Saliba's perspective, the Gunners even handed White the number four shirt - Saliba's squad number before he left on a temporary basis.
White is only three years Saliba's senior and with boasting international experience at senior level, it is hardly as if the latter is miles behind the former in terms of development. The pair enjoyed similar seasons in the eyes of the Arsenal faithful.
While Saliba excelled in the south of France and even made the Ligue 1 team of the year for his efforts at the Stade Velodrome, the consensus among the Emirates crowd was White had also impressed. Famed for his technical ability, his precision passing has been vital to changing the way Arsenal play out from the back
However, in the eyes of one former Premier League star - White should be axed immediately and replaced by the returning Saliba. Gabriel Agbonlahor waxed lyrical about the former Marseille loanee while lambasting White.
"I've watched Saliba a few times and he's got that speed that you like to see in a centre-half and he’s very good at making the right decision at the right time," Agbonlahor told Football Insider.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Saliba come in and immediately replace White? Comment below
"Arsenal's defence is nowhere near good enough to get top four. For me, Ben White is very overrated, I watched him against Newcastle towards the end of the season and he was absolutely dreadful.
"He lacks pace, he lacks aggression. Yes, he's good on the ball but he's not a defensive midfielder, he's a centre-half. With Ben White, I think Brighton are laughing at getting the fee they got for him because he's not good enough."
Agbonlahor went on to make some eyebrow-raising comments suggesting White was a 'waste of money' before declaring how Gabriel Magalhaes should be the one to partner Saliba next term instead of the England international.
The reality of the situation is that by all accounts Arteta is very happy with how White fared during his debut campaign at the Emirates and will most likely play a starring role in Arsenal's back-line.
