"He’s going to be so confident coming back" - Kevin Campbell says Arsenal loanee could play major role next season

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has said that William Saliba will be a much more confident player following his regular game time at Marseille. He believes that Saliba could play a big role for the Gunners next season.

Signed for a substantial fee of £27m from Saint-Etienne back in 2019, Saliba is yet to play a single minute for the north London club. The 21-year-old has had three separate loan spells away from the Emirates at Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille respectively.

Campbell believes that Saliba has done more than enough to be retained by the Gunners next season. The 52-year-old said that he was one of the people who insisted the Frenchman be given a chance at the Emirates. However, he now believes that his former club did the right thing by loaning Saliba out.

“I think Mikel Arteta and Arsenal did right by Saliba in the end,” he told Football Insider. “I was one of the people calling for him to get a chance."

“The club thought he could do with another season, and going to Marseille and playing week-in, week-out has really helped his game – so credit to them."

Campbell further lauded Saliba stating that it was 'an incredible milestone' for him to make his French senior debut before making his Gunners debut.

The Englishman has also claimed that Mikel Arteta could switch to a back three when Saliba comes back from his loan spell. The trio of Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Saliba would be 'quite the prospect' to witness.

Campbell added:

“He’s got his first France caps before even playing a game for Arsenal, and that’s an incredible milestone. He’s going to be so confident coming back in the summer. I think Arteta could really utilise him next season. His height and his attributes could even make Arsenal change the system. Ben White, Gabriel, and Saliba in a three is quite the prospect.”

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Can William Saliba break into the Arsenal starting XI next season?

William Saliba is regarded as one of the best young central defenders and was considered a coup for the north Londoners when they signed him in 2019.

Three loan spells away from the club in three years has certainly worked wonders for the 21-year-old with the youngster having developed significantly thanks to regular first-team football.

Saliba has made 40 appearances across competitions for Marseille this season and has helped the club keep the joint-second best defense this campaign, conceding 27 goals.

The Gunners cannot afford to loan the French international out once again and must integrate him into the first team next season.

The centre-back duo of White and Gabriel have done well this season for Mikel Arteta's side but having strong competition is important and Saliba can ensure that.