William Saliba refuses to answer question after making U-turn on Arsenal future

William Saliba has remained coy on his Arsenal future, despite reports suggesting he is now ready to return to the club and fight for his place.

The central defender was signed in 2019 for £27million, but has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Gunners and is currently on his third temporary spell away from north London.

Initially signed by Unai Emery, Saliba was allowed to rejoin Saint Etienne with the idea being another full season in Ligue 1 would have him ready for the trials and tribulations of the Premier League.

However, injuries and the curtailment of the French top-flight due to covid mean Emery's successor Mikel Arteta felt he hadn't built the required bank of experience.

The 2020/21 season saw Arteta omit the Frenchman from both his Premier League and Europa League squads.

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He would then go on to join Nice in January of last year, before signing for Marseille for the current campaign following the arrival of record signing Benjamin White.

Saliba has enjoyed a relatively impressive campaign for the French giants, finally earning the regular and consistent minutes his parent club have been so desperate to see him get.

That has led to some speculation that the centre-back could stay at the Stade Velodrome on a permanent basis, something which the player himself refused to confirm or deny.

"I prefer not to speak about my future, but I'm very good here," Saliba told RTL. "I don't regret my decision. I have been very happy since day one. I have one year here and I am going to give my all."

The 20-year-old has made 21 appearances in all competitions, with his standout performance coming in the 0-0 draw with PSG in October.

"Yes we have been as a club always in touch," Arteta said following that clash. "They went to see the game as well, Edu and Ben [Knapper] were there to watch him and to keep a close eye on him and the progress that he's making.

"Obviously he's our player and with all the loaned players that we have. At the moment he's there, and he played a different game that week, and this is it. He continues to do what he needs to do, which is to play a lot of games and play them well."

Arteta is adamant that Saliba remains a "long-term player" at the Emirates and his current boss Jorge Sampaoli is confident he has a massive future in the game regardless of where he plays.

"He's a top player at his post. We had the chance to bring him on loan, it was not easy. He is good at marking but he has a good recovery too.

"He is a great future of French football, he is very good at the recovery phase."

According to recent reports, the defender is intending to return to the English capital next summer, having completed a relative U-turn.

The Sun initially reported that Saliba was upset about the treatment he had received and is reluctant to return to the Emirates.

But The Telegraph claim Saliba's intentions are clear: fight for the jersey next season and prove that he is good enough to play for Arsenal.