Arsenal legend David Seaman feels William Saliba came back a completely different player after he was sent out on loan a bunch of times.
The Frenchman is one of the best defenders in the Premier League right now, but he was very different when he first came to Arsenal. Those loan spells definitely helped him become the player he is today – a completely unrecognisable one compared to who he was in 2019.
David Seaman says Arsenal’s William Saliba came back a different player after loan spells
Arsenal signed William Saliba from Saint-Etienne back in the summer of 2019, when Unai Emery was still at the club.
The Frenchman was one of the biggest defensive prospects in world football at the time, but he was still very raw, and Mikel Arteta just wasn’t convinced he was ready for the Premier League in the following summer.
Saliba was sent out on loan two more times – first to Nice and then to Olympique Marseille. Both spells were hugely successful, especially the latter, where he gained experience in the Champions League.
Arteta saw Saliba’s progress and reintegrated him into his squad in the following summer. He has been one of the first names on the teamsheet since, and David Seaman feels the Frenchman was unrecognisable when he came back from loan.
Speaking about Wolves’ Fabio Silva, the Arsenal legend said on the Seaman Says podcast: “The fact he is going out on loan is good because he’s getting match-day experience.
“We have seen that at Arsenal with Saliba. You wouldn’t believe the player who left Arsenal to go out on loan, the one who came back was like Saliba’s other twin that had been training with Beckenbauer or someone.
“It can really help. But it is another step up, another level.”
Loan spells transformed Saliba
William Saliba was always a terrific talent, but he was very raw as a teenager.
Mikel Arteta came under enormous criticism for refusing to give him an opportunity back then, but Arsenal fans will agree now that the Spaniard was right.
Not exposing Saliba to the Premier League when he wasn’t ready may have been the best thing that happened to him. Playing in a relatively easier league in France helped him get better, and he’s a superstar now.
Arsenal take on West Ham tonight and it will be interesting to see if Saliba will start.