Saint-Etienne manager explains what Arsenal fans can expect from William Saliba next season

Arsenal completed the signing of William Saliba for a fee reported to be £27million in 2019 and he was however loaned back to Saint-Etienne since this was one of their requirements that a club needed to agree to if they wanted the highly rated young Frenchman. Saint-Etienne boss Claude Puel has spoken out on what the Arsenal fans will need to expect from the 19-year-old next season.

William Saliba became one of France’s hottest prospects on the market when he had his breakthrough to the first team of Saint-Etienne at the age of 18 and Arsenal managed to secure the signature of the centre back ahead of their arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur but he was however sent back to Ligue one so that he gain more experience before immediately getting introduced to the Premier League.

Saliba has been at Saint-Etienne for the 2019/20 campaign and their manager Claude Puel has spoken about the qualities of the young Frenchman and has boldly claimed that he is ready, and says that he believes that Arsenal requires a player like him in their squad.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 13: William Saliba of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 13, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“He is ready. He is a fantastic player. He is a young player but with a lot of maturity in his play. Also, in his life. He is a player with a good feeling and spirit.” Claude Puel The Athletic.

“It will be hard for us without him but I think it is a fantastic opportunity for Arsenal. I think they need a good centre-back and have done for some time, and I think William is the right player. I think he can play all the time in the first team at Arsenal.”

Arsenal fans will be happy with the comments from Claude Puel because he is known as a defensive manager and if he is saying that William Saliba will be something special then his statements hold a lot of weight. The French Ligue one recently announced that they wouldn’t be able to complete the 2019/20 season and so then Saliba could be coming to Arsenal earlier than expected.