Mikel Arteta makes exciting prediction for £27million Arsenal star – ‘he will reach new levels’

Mikel Arteta insists William Saliba is still a long way from realising his full potential and is adamant he will ‘reach new levels’ in the years to come.

The France international joined the Gunners from St Etienne seven years ago in a £27million move and was expected to make an instant impact at the north London club.

Instead, the then teenager was immediately loaned back to his boyhood club and upon his return struggled to win the faith of Arteta who had succeeded Unai Emery.

Further loan spells as Nice and Marseille ensued before he was finally given a first team opportunity at the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

After making an eye-catching debut against Crystal Palace, Saliba has been a constant presence at the heart of Arsenal’s mean machine and his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes is considered to be one of the strongest in European football.

Now 24, Saliba is approaching the peak of his career and Arteta is adamant there is plenty more to come from a player who committed his long-term future to Arsenal by signing a long-term contract last year.

‘That’s something we have to continue to evolve the game will change the opponent will adapt and we have to find other ways to help them,’ said Arteta when asked if Saliba had been demonstrating anew side to his game in recent weeks, particularly in possession.

‘The backline is going to have to take more responsibility to break teams down and especially in the way most teams set up against us they’re going to be really important.’

Asked specifically where the centre-half could improve, Arteta added: ‘Willy? So much in every area I look at him there is so much growth and potential there.

‘He really wants it and I think he will go to different levels in the next few years.

‘In both boxes he can be much better and then everything that goes from box to box in his leadership, in the way he commands the line and the way he makes adjustments to the backline.

‘There is a lot and with Gabi they found a great partnership but he can form other partnerships as well and his status in the team has to grow.’

Arteta, meanwhile, has challenged Arsenal supporters to create ‘more energy and more positiveness’ in the club’s pursuit of a first Premier League title in 22 years.

Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the best shape to end their barren league run since Arsene Wenger led the Invincibles to glory more than two decades ago.

However, Arteta’s side have played out two goalless draws in their last league fixtures – at home to Liverpool and then at Nottingham Forest – to fuel an already anxious fanbase. Arsenal have finished runners-up for the past three seasons.

But, speaking on the eve of another pivotal match in his side’s title tilt, Arteta said: ‘It is not about calming (the fans), but it is about continuing to do what we are doing really well and try to evolve every single day to be better.

‘So, from their side, it is continuing to do what they do in the stadium; create more energy, more positiveness around the games in each action, and if we do that and we create that kind of a scenario, we are going to make it more and more difficult to the opponent, and that is going to help us to win more games.’

Michael Carrick started his interim United tenure with an emphatic 2-0 win against Manchester City at Old Trafford last weekend.

‘They are so good in a lot of departments,’ continued Arteta. ‘It is clear that when that team has the space to run and certain players to activate their runs, they become lethal and you saw that a few days ago in Manchester.

‘Michael coming in will bring new ideas. Always, the intensity rises up. And you could see that in the Manchester derby, the kind of behaviours and the game that they played, so we will expect a really tough match and we’ll adapt to that for sure. But we are at home and we know how important that game is for us.’