Former Arsenal insider gives Mikel Arteta the required confirmation over William Saliba's future

Arsenal must make a decision in the summer transfer window whether they are to keep William Saliba at the club or not.

The young Frenchman has been loaned out on three occasions since joining Arsenal, but now is the time to decide whether he can break into Mikel Arteta’s squad, or if he will be sold in a permanent deal.

According to Spanish outlet , William Saliba, on loan at Marseille, is a target for La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, and further reports have said Los Blancos are set to approach with an offer.

However, former Arsenal striker Stephy Mavididi has made it clear that the young defender must stay in north London next season, and they are certainly comments which Arteta should listen to if Saliba's excellent performances weren't already persuasive enough.

Speaking about Saliba, Mavididi said: “He’s hands down one of the best defenders in the league. I think he’ll walk back into the Arsenal team next season. When I played against him, I thought ‘how is this guy not at Arsenal?”

Mavididi's impressive loan spells at Charlton Athletic and Preston North End poised him for an opportunity in Arsenal side but the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prevented this.

The striker would go on to spend two seasons at Juventus learning from the likes of to improve his game.

The fact that he was a youth product during Wenger’s tenure at the Gunners means that he saw the club during its more fruitful days, and his words should certainly be noted, as he has also played against the Frenchman during his time in Ligue 1.

In Saliba’s recent loan at Marseille, he has shown the maturity required to be a regular Premier League centre-back, as he has currently played more minutes than any other player