Nuno Tavares is following in William Saliba’s Marseille footsteps by impressing while also enjoying his time there but will his loan spell result in an Arsenal return or exit as he’s tipped to become one of the best in his position?

When Nuno Tavares first signed for Arsenal, he was thrown into the first team due to an injury to Kieran Tierney.

He impressed so much that some even wondered if Mikel Arteta would opt to keep picking him when Tierney returned to fitness.

As it turned out, Tierney got his place back and that appeared to dent Tavares’ confidence. When he was given a chance in the second half of the season, he seemed a shadow of the player Arsenal had signed from Sporting CP for £7.2m.

On loan with Marseille, Tavares is a starter again, and has even managed to find the net in three of his 12 Ligue 1 games. He scored one (and assisted one) in 28 appearances for Arsenal.

“The future? I do not think about it,” Nuno Tavares said. “I live in the moment day by day. I have no prospects, I keep my feet on the ground.

“The World Cup? I don’t really think about it. My goal is to do a good job at Marseille.”

In the last interview that Tavares gave that made the media in the UK, he spoke about how he wanted an option for Marseille to buy him but Arsenal refused, hinting at a future for him back at the club. Or an unwillingness for them to sell him at Tavares’ market value in the summer just past in the hope a successful loan would increase his value.

As for Marseille, they think he has the potential to become “one of the best in the world”.

Speaking to the press ahead of their game at the weekend, Marseille manager Igor Tudor, said, “Tavares is a good guy. A bit timid off the pitch.

“He’s quick, he’s solid. He still needs to improve things, like his final ball, or make better choices.

“If he can do that, he’ll be one of the best in the world in his role.”

Marseille’s new sporting director, Javier Ribalta, has also been speaking about the Arsenal man, calling him “…one of the best full-backs in his country,” adding that Tavares has  “started very well!”

The 22-year-old was recently suspended after picking up three yellow cards in under 10 games.