Arteta admits to having conflicts with Arsenal's top star

Arteta admitted that his relationship with William Saliba was not good before they succeeded together at Arsenal.

Since taking over Arsenal at the end of 2019, Mikel Arteta has led a complete overhaul of the team. From a worn-out, aging, and unstable squad, he transformed the Gunners into a highly competitive team in both the Premier League and Europe. However, this journey was far from smooth, and even one of Arsenal’s current top stars, William Saliba, experienced a tense period with the Spanish coach.

When Arteta was appointed, Saliba was still playing on loan at Saint-Etienne. After returning, the French defender was quickly expected to break into the starting lineup. He was even on the bench for the Community Shield match against Liverpool and appeared in a few friendlies.

However, Arteta excluded Saliba from the squad for the first half of the season, raising many questions about the player’s future at the Emirates.

In fact, Saliba was subsequently loaned out repeatedly, first to Nice and then to Marseille. This further strengthened the belief that Arteta did not highly value the young defender. But recently, the Spanish coach revealed the real reason.

Speaking on HaytersTV, Arteta admitted that his relationship with Saliba at that time “was not good” due to disagreements over choosing the right development path. He said: “Perhaps we had different expectations and ideas about creating the best pathway for him to reach his potential. Yes, there were misunderstandings from both sides.

But at some point, we reached a common understanding and began working together. From there, with the help of the coaching staff and teammates, everything started to flourish because his potential was very clear.”

Saliba also went through a difficult time. The coach who brought him to Arsenal, Unai Emery, was sacked before he returned, and Arteta was cautious. Only when the 2001-born defender shone at Marseille and came back to the Emirates did things change.

Arteta recalled the crucial moment: “When I saw him after his loan spell, I looked Saliba straight in the eyes and said, ‘In my opinion, you are ready. What do you think?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I am ready.’ From that moment, we started, and everything exploded.”

Now, William Saliba is not only a key pillar of Arsenal’s defense but also one of the top defenders in the Premier League. He is preparing to sign a new contract to stay long-term with the North London club.

The story of the relationship between Arteta and Saliba clearly demonstrates that patience, proper guidance, and understanding can turn a conflicted beginning into a foundation for success. Arsenal is currently reaping the rewards of trusting a defender who nearly lost his place as soon as he arrived in London.