Sagna refutes claims Arteta ‘doesn’t like’ Arsenal youngster

Bacary Sagna has rubbished claims suggesting that Mikel Arteta is not a fan of Arsenal youngster William Saliba.

It has previously been reported that Arteta has a fractious relationship with the young defender.

Arsenal paid £27m to bring Saliba in from Saint-Etienne in 2019. He is yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners.

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Following brief spells at Saint-Etienne and Nice, he joined Marseille on loan ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Saliba has been praised for his performances as he has been a standout for the French side this term.

The 20-year-old’s contract does not expire until 2024. It is currently unclear whether Saliba will be involved for Arsenal next season.

Sagna has defended Arteta regarding his treatment of the centre-back:

“I’ve watched Saliba this season and his performances have been great for Marseille,” Sagna said (via The Mirror).

“He’s been one of the key players defensively, he’s very calm with the ball. He can play out from the back, he’s very strong, good with his challenges.

“I think he just needed some time to play. And Mikel understands that. It’s not that he doesn’t like him, but I think at the age of 18 or 19 you need play, commit to playing every single weekend. He’s not one for staying on the bench, or not wanting to get involved.

“When you are at Arsenal, you need to go somewhere and play and progress. This is what it is, so I’m looking forward to seeing him back.

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