Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stands by their early management of William Saliba.

A revelation in his first full season with the Gunners, doubts were raised after his two years away on-loan with Nice and Olympique Marseille.

Arteta said: “We bought him, we sent him on loan because that was part of the deal. He came back, we didn't think he was ready, we sent him back on loan.

"A player of this potential, who already has this recognition away and how it will affect our relationship… We thought and I was convinced that this period was going to be much more beneficial to him than staying here.

"And as soon as I saw things that gave signs of what he could do, we had no doubt that he was a player for us. He was really humble and determined to say: Ok, I can put that aside, I get it, now it's time to perform here. And he was outstanding."