Mikel Arteta reveals why William Saliba was left out of Arsenal’s victory against Liverpool

Mikel Arteta insists that William Saliba needs more time to “transition” after his move to the club after the defender was left out of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory against Liverpool.

The Frenchman has yet to make his club debut following his £ 28 million arrival from St Etienne and fans are increasingly impatient to see the defender in action.

While Arteta was understandably unwilling to throw Saliba to the bottom by placing him in the Premier League, Thursday’s Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool seemed like the perfect opportunity to give the 19-year-old his first few minutes with the Arsenal jersey. .

However, Saliba was not named to Arsenal’s 18-man squad for the game at Anfield, leaving fans baffled as they continue to wait to see him in action.

And Arteta has suggested that fans will have to be patient to see Saliba in action, as he needs a year to establish himself at the club.

“He had the last year where Arsenal essentially loaned him out to Saint-Etienne and that was a transitional year for him,” Arteta said.

‘For many reasons, that was not the transition year he needed because he had a lot of injuries, he had some personal issues and obviously with COVID and the French league canceled, he didn’t have that year, so he needs that transition year.

“He needs that transition year and we are trying to make the right decisions so that he makes the best transition year possible so that he has the player we want for our future.”

Arsenal’s reward for beating the Reds is a quarter-final clash at home against current Manchester City in December.

After beating Leicester in the previous round, it is another difficult draw for Arsenal and Arteta admits it will be another “huge challenge”.

“I was enjoying the victory in the locker room and I heard the news,” Arteta said.

“Another big challenge for us, but we are not having much luck with the draws at the moment. But we will prepare [for] the game and try to win, of course.

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