“He didn’t…” William Saliba reveals strange mind game Mikel Arteta played to gauge his character

William Saliba revealed the strange way Mikel Arteta gauged the Frenchman’s character last pre-season.

Saliba was a central component of Arsenal’s title challenge last year, with a season-ending injury sustained in March coinciding with the club’s costly dip in form.

The 22-year-old had started every Premier League match before sustaining his back injury against Sporting in the Europa League. Indeed, during his extended run in the side, only one Premier League outfit had conceded fewer goals than Arsenal.

Of course, Saliba had to wait for his chance in north London, having been signed as a teenager for £27million. In fact, it took him three loans and 1,107 days to make his senior debut for the Gunners.

Arteta’s Saliba mind-games

Last year, during pre-season Saliba was reintegrated into Arsenal’s first team, yet his future under Arteta still appeared uncertain.

When reporting for training he was met with near-silence from his manager.

“I was so excited to do a pre-season with the team and to try to play in the Premier League and the Europa League,” Saliba told the Mail Online.

“He said hello to me the first day and then after he didn’t speak with me.”

Arteta didn’t exchange a word with the 22-year-old for a week, keen to see how the Frenchman would act and react.

It was Arteta’s way of gauging the France international’s character.

Saliba continued: “I told myself to be good on the pitch, to give him a solution, to tell him: ‘Yeah I’m ready’.

“To tell him on the pitch is the better way… I knew one day he’ll come to speak to me.”

Of course, Saliba when on to become the anchor of his side’s backline, with his performances recently rewarded with a new four-year contract.

Saliba said: “I’m looking forward to the future with this club.

“The future will be good for everyone, I hope. It won’t be easy but we will work hard for this and I know the club will be back at the very, very top. We have to do everything to win every title possible.”

Topics: Football, Premier League, William Saliba, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.