Frustrated at his lack of game time at Arsenal, ex-AS Saint-Etienne prodigy William Saliba is back in Ligue 1 Uber Eats on loan at OGC Nice, where the young star says he will be “the boss” of a struggling defence.
The 19-year-old this week joined Nice on loan until the end of the season after a frustrating six months in north London, where he was not given his chance in the first team by coach Mikel Arteta. Saliba made his Nice debut in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat away to Stade Brestois 29.
“At Arsenal I was playing for the Under-23s, where the rhythm is not the same, even if I was giving everything in training,” Saliba told journalists on Friday ahead of another away trip with his new club, to FC Metz.
“My first six months (at Arsenal) were difficult, and after the first friendly matches where I played but wasn’t up to speed, the coach said to me that I wasn’t ready. I would have liked to have my chance, but that’s football, that’s the way it is, and he is behind me.”
At Nice he comes into a struggling side who have won just once in 12 games in all competitions since veteran defensive lynchpin Dante suffered a serious knee injury in November. The Brazilian leaves big boots to fill, but former Saint-Etienne prodigy Saliba - who cost Arsenal a reported €30 million - believes he can be the man to sort out the Nice defence.
“It is true that I am a young player, but I can bring my young experience. I have played in Ligue 1 even though I am young, and I am here to be the boss! I am here to guide the defence. Young or not, I intend to give my all and I hope we will do better in defence in the coming matches.”
