Saliba reveals Arsenal pushed him toward Newcastle or Palace before Marseille loan transformed his career

William Saliba has revealed that Arsenal encouraged him to join Newcastle United or Crystal Palace on loan during the period he was frozen out at the club — a move he rejected before a transformative season at Marseille set him on the path to becoming one of Europe’s finest centre-backs.

Saliba, now a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s defence, was signed by former Arsenal manager Unai Emery but never played under him. When Arteta took charge, the young Frenchman found himself peripheral to first-team plans and was sent on loan to Nice for a season. Upon his return, he was told not to report for pre-season as the club sought another temporary destination.

“Arsenal wanted me to go to Newcastle United or Crystal Palace, but I didn’t want to,” Saliba told L’Equipe.

Instead, he was presented with a choice between Lille and Marseille. Financial difficulties at Lille made the decision for him, though Saliba admitted some initial hesitation about heading to the Vélodrome. “Marseille is a big club, but it is scary,” he said, referencing a turbulent period for the club that included supporters entering the training ground.

His agent ultimately persuaded him that a strong season at Marseille could accelerate his career. The gamble paid off. Under Jorge Sampaoli, who Saliba said “really wanted me”, the defender played almost every match, saw his market value recover, and made his senior debut for France by March of that season.

“It was an incredible year. I honestly loved Marseille: the supporters, the club, my teammates,” Saliba said. “Football is like that. You build again from the bottom; it’s not a problem. Buckle up. If you do things well, you’ll get back to the top.”

When Saliba returned to Arsenal ahead of the 2022-23 season, Arteta handed him a starting berth immediately. He has not relinquished it since, forming a central defensive partnership with Gabriel that is widely considered the best in European club football.