Arsenal may finally reap the rewards on £27m investment next year as Mikel Arteta steps in

Arteta praises Smith Rowe after win over Aston Villa

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Arsenal could finally have William Saliba lining-up at the heart of their backline next season, with boss Mikel Arteta reportedly set to bring the player back to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the campaign. Saliba is currently on loan at French side Marseille.

The 20-year-old was allowed to return to France for a third loan spell ahead of the new campaign, with Arteta under the illusion that he wasn’t needed in north London this season.

But Saliba has been in magnificent form for Marseille and starred once again on Sunday as his side held title-favourites Paris Saint-Germain to a goalless draw.

There were even videos circling on Twitter showing the defender making a goal-saving tackle on blockbuster forward Kylian Mbappe.

Saliba has played the full 90 minutes in all but one game this term and has been extolled for his commanding performances.

With Arsenal yet to even hand the player his first-team debut, some people have suggested that the player may push for a permanent move away from the Emirates next summer.

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But, according to football.london, Saliba will be part of Arteta’s set-up in the capital next season.

If Saliba is to return, he would surely want assurances that he will be a regular in Arteta’s side.

Arteta has finally found a consistent partnership at the heart of his defence in recent months after playing Gabriel alongside summer signing Ben White.

White has made a big impression for the Gunners and now appears to be Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back.

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Saliba would therefore likely have to compete with Gabriel, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding for a place in the starting squad.

But his form this season would indicate he will be in the driving seat to nail down a regular place.

Arsenal signed then 18-year-old Saliba from Saint-Etienne in 2019 for a whopping £27million, before sending him straight back to the Ligue 1 club on loan. The youngster then spent last season with Nice.

Ahead of his move to Marseille in July, Arsenal sporting director Edu explained the club’s reasoning for sanctioning yet another loan deal.

“William is a player with strong natural ability and next season has the potential to be really beneficial for him at Marseille, a good club,” Edu told Arsenal.com.

“To play another season in Ligue 1 will be very important for his development.”

But Marseille could yet give Arteta a headache by attempting to sign the player permanently at the end of the campaign after president Pablo Longoria signalled the club’s intentions back in the summer.

“On William, we have to speak with Arsenal later in the season,” Longoria said in August. “If we talk about loan with or without options, we always end up negotiating.

“William is a player with extraordinary potential. He has all the characteristics of a modern central defender – he has everything to succeed at the highest level.”

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