William Saliba offers cutting response on why he doesn’t want to return to Arsenal

William Saliba has publicly declared he wants to stay at Marseille next season, where he will have the chance to play in the Champions League.

Having signed for Arsenal in a deal worth £27million in the summer of 2019, there were high hopes for the young Frenchman, who was subsequently allowed to return to St. Etienne on loan. But having failed to earn the kind of minutes the Gunners had hoped for, he was left out of their Premier League and Europa League squads for the following campaign.

Saliba then spent the following year with Nice, before Mikel Arteta sanctioned another loan move to Marseille at the start of this season. "I know that sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan. But a lot of things have happened to him," Arteta said of the decision to allow him out on loan.

"He’s a long-term player for us and we need to protect him as well. And giving him three or four games is not enough. He’s very happy to go there now. Hopefully, he can enjoy his football and be ready for us for next season."

And while Ben White and Gabriel have built an impressive early relationship at the Emirates, Saliba has thrived during his time playing under Jorge Sampaoli. The 21-year-old has been a mainstay for Marseille and has played a key role in their second-placed finish.

Marseille’s emphatic 4-0 win over Strasbourg on the final day ensured the French giants will be in next season’s Champions League, a fate that now appears unlikely for his parent club. Going into their last game of the season, the Gunners need a near-miracle, including already relegated Norwich City beating Tottenham.

Reports earlier this week had suggested that the