Burnwinter wrote:
Saliba was supposedly happy to be on loan at Marseille—when he found out we were going to loan him, he pushed for the move to Marseille over any destination in England. He repeatedly said he was happy there through the season, which wasn't surprising since it was a very good, successful loan where he'd wanted to go.
He didn't want to go on loan though, he would rather stay here and fight for his place. That's the whole point. Like you said, it was only when he found out we were going to loan him, a decision itself very questionable. Just take a look at how many people here thought he would have a chance last season here and was shocked he was going on loan again. Looking at the last few pages, most people also came to realise the last loan really was not needed and a mistake from the club. If its an honest mistake, fair enough but the way everything has gone is just a little bizarre unless we are really of the opinion his development matters more than our own club's results.
Imagine say Barcelona loaning out a 21 year old Pique and then spending 50m buying a similarly inexperienced and probably less talented player etc.
Burnwinter wrote:
Clrnc wrote:
It's strange you keep mentioning his age etc when we are a club who gives plenty of opportunities to young players even younger than that.
Don't come the raw prawn Clrnc, as they say. :egg:
Saliba's a centre half not a luxury player or an option out wide. The question of Gabriel is neither here nor there given who preceded Gabriel at Arsenal in the position and how problematic it has been. At the start of last season we'd had problems in central defence for years. If the technical leadership of our club (Arteta, Edu, anyone else) got together and decided, given that history and the overall resolve to rebuild the side from the back to front, Saliba might still be a bit too raw at 20 to start a whole league season for Arsenal, that is highly understandable. When you think about that, it'd be unreasonable if Saliba harboured a huge grievance about it at this point, so here's hoping he doesn't.
Our club's never done much to hurt this kid and we seem to have anointed him in as a starter now, if he starts to manoeuvre his way out of the club from here, it will be disappointing.
I hope he doesn't too, but what most people is saying is that it is "understandable" if he does.
I get what you are saying, but the matter of the fact is that if you are good enough you are old enough. The theory that Saliba is inexperienced don't cut it for me because Gabriel and White is similarly as experienced as him based on league appearances in top flights. The theory that he is not match fit don't cut it for me either since he had a full preseason with us and Gabriel had one training session that season. The theory that we cock up his loan and therefore he has to play in reserve is weird too because as shown many times he is more than good enough to play for us, let alone just Carabao or Europa appearances over Kolasinac out of position at CB or Mustafi. Those are either error in judgement for me or there's more to that.
That said Burns, we have seen many times in history in football that players bury the hatchet when good money is offered, especially at the club he supported from young and loved. I am more confident than most here that despite everything he will sign a contract here. He did voice his grievance time and time again in the past and I really do understand that, but he seems someone very matured and level headed to know what is best for him.
And also one thing Arteta is good at is to tie players down despite everything. Nketiah was given no chance for almost 1 year, was set to leave and then get chances to start for 2 months then signed a new decent contract. The man can sell a career definitely, PR is his thing.
