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News
Bacary Sagna says loaned-out Arsenal star needs to be a ‘bit more aggressive’
Bacary Sagna agrees with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta when it comes to his handling of youngster William Saliba.
Saliba, who cost the Gunners £27million () 2019, is yet to make his competitive first-team debut for the club.
The French defender was with Saint-Etienne during the 2019/20 campaign, and most expected him to be integrated to the senior squad at the Emirates Stadium this season.
But he was playing with the Arsenal youth team in the first half of the season, before leaving for Ligue 1 side Nice in January.
The 20-year-old is now playing regular first-team football again in the French league, and remans a highly-rated talent.
Ex-Arsenal defender Sagna agress that Saliba needed another loan.
Additionally, he’s added that he would like to see him become a bit more aggressive with his defending.
“I’m not surprised [that Arsenal haven’t played him] because he’s joined the best league in the world,” .
“I still have trust in him, I still think he’s a good player, because I’ve seen him play many times. I’m watching games and he’s good.
“He might need to be a bit more aggressive and be a leader, be loud.
“Sending him away is not a bad thing. To me it’s clever from the club to send him, rather than him being on the bench or not being in the squad. At that age you need to be playing and he has big potential, in France people know it.
“He’s doing well in Nice, he’s probably their best player.”
TBR’s View:
Despite the fact he couldn’t break into the Arsenal set-up this season, it doesn’t mean he can’t have a massive future in north London.
He’s a ball-playing centre-half that looks a perfect fit for what the Gunners need, it’s just a case of whether they think he’s ready to handle the physical demands of English football.
He can only keep impressing out on loan, which should edge him closer to Arteta’s plans.