Bacary Sagna thinks Mikel Arteta understood what William Saliba needed this season, and the centre-back has the ability to succeed in England.

joie - Gerson Santos Da Silva Olympique de Marseille - William Saliba Olympique de Marseille FOOTBALL : Olympique de Marseille vs AS Saint Etienne - Ligue 1 Uber Eats - Marseille - 28/08/2021 NorbertScanella/PanoramiC
joie – Gerson Santos Da Silva Olympique de Marseille – William Saliba Olympique de Marseille FOOTBALL : Olympique de Marseille vs AS Saint Etienne – Ligue 1 Uber Eats – Marseille – 28/08/2021 NorbertScanella/PanoramiC

Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has been impressed by what he’s seen of William Saliba this season.

“I’ve watched William Saliba this season and his performances with Marseille are very good,” Sagna said (via Sport Witness). “He’s one of the key players in defence, very calm on the ball, can play from the back, very powerful and good in duels.”

Many Arsenal fans have noticed the same thing, leading to questions about why the centre-back went out on loan in the first place. Sagna suggests he understands the reasoning behind that move.

“I think he just needed to play, and Mikel Arteta understood that,” Sagna continued. “It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate him, but I think that at 18-19, you need to play, to be involved every weekend.

“He’s not a player you need to leave on the bench, or who will accept to not be in the squad. When you’re at Arsenal, you need to go somewhere to play and progress. That’s how it is.”

Though Sagna does admit that he now can’t wait to see how Saliba performs in the Premier League.

“I’m impatient to see him come back. He surely progressed in France, but the Premier League is something else. I think he has the ability to succeed. I’m looking forward to him returning.”

Valentin Rongier Olympique de Marseille - William Saliba Olympique de Marseille - Alvaro Gonzalez Olympique de Marseille FOOTBALL : Olympique de Marseille vs AS Saint Etienne - Ligue 1 Uber Eats - Marseille - 28/08/2021 NorbertScanella/PanoramiC
Valentin Rongier Olympique de Marseille – William Saliba Olympique de Marseille – Alvaro Gonzalez Olympique de Marseille FOOTBALL : Olympique de Marseille vs AS Saint Etienne – Ligue 1 Uber Eats – Marseille – 28/08/2021 NorbertScanella/PanoramiC

Speaking to RMC Sport, Arsenal loanee William Saliba recently admitted that he hasn’t been at his best for the last couple of months.

“Since February, I’ve been very average,” Saliba said. “There’s no need to hide.

“I know that I need to work, I’m a young player, but it’s no excuse. I’m going to give everything to get back to my good level.”

But it wasn’t long ago that Saliba was named Marseille’s January Player of the Month, and it was inevitable he’d go through a tougher period of form at some stage.

That’s what this kind of loan is for, to learn how to bounce back when things go wrong.

Football.London report that they understand Saliba would prefer to prove himself with Arsenal than join Marseille on a permanent deal this summer.

Arsenal will reportedly review Saliba’s situation at the end of the season, as well as holding preliminary talks over a new contract towards the end of his loan spell.