William Saliba is back training with Arsenal in London after his loan spell with Saint-Etienne, though he’s doing individual sessions at the moment.

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

Sam Dean reports that William Saliba started training individually with Arsenal over the past week. He’s ‘very, very keen’ to make a big impression ahead of the new season, and plans to try and hit the ground running with his new side.

Obviously, there’s also the disappointment at the situation with the Coupe de France final. Saint-Etienne face Paris Saint-Germain at 20:10 BST on Friday, but Saliba will be watching on from home as Arsenal and his former club couldn’t reach an agreement to extend his loan.

The 19-year-old accepted the decision and said his goodbyes last week. But it’s still surely going to weigh on his mind until he can put it behind him on the pitch.

Saliba can’t play for the Gunners in the next two games, despite starting to train at London Colney. Premier League clubs already agreed not to use returning loanees for the remainder of the season.

That’s a good thing for the integrity of the competition, of course. It just means Saliba will have two cup finals to nervously follow from his sofa like the rest of us.