William Gallas has warned William Saliba that if he returns to Arsenal this summer, he better be prepared to sit on the bench, otherwise he should not return.

William Saliba signed for Arsenal in 2019 for £27m but has not played a single, competitive minute for the club.

With him impressing on loan with Marseille, and a host of European clubs eager to sign one of the best young centrebacks in the game, former Arsenal captain, William Gallas, has issued the player a stern warning.

“If he comes back to Arsenal he has to be ready to, maybe, be on the bench at the start because at the moment you have Ben White and Gabriel,” Gallas said.

“He has to accept the possibility of being on the bench. He has to understand that and be ready, otherwise he must not come back to Arsenal, because it will be difficult.

“Saliba is only 21. He has played 30 or more games in Marseille, so if he returns to Arsenal, he will want to play again.

“And if he finds himself on the bench, he will be upset.”

Speaking not that long ago, Saliba did indeed admit he did not want to return to Arsenal to sit on the bench.

“I definitely can’t settle for being on the bench at Arsenal and being happy [with it],” Saliba said.

“I want to be a starter. But, then, if I do get into the rotation as a substitute, it wouldn’t be like staying with the U23 and never being in the team.”