He is not the finished product – there are no defenders his age. But if Arteta was one of his doubters, he has done his best to prove him wrong. Arteta said of Saliba last week: “I’m very happy to see the way he’s playing, the way he’s adapted to the team, the maturity he’s shown at 21, they continue to do that. We will continue to develop him, he has huge potential, he is already a top player and we have to make him even better.” If Saliba wasn’t up to the task when he returned this summer, an exit would probably be possible. But how he has settled in at the back is a major bonus for Arteta and saves him from spending millions in the market to bolster his defensive resources.
