Arsenal defender William Saliba insists he understands manager Mikel Arteta holding him back.

Saliba has opened up on life at Arsenal, admitting it's a "dream" to play for the north Londoners.

The Gunners acquired the French centre-back's services from Saint-Etienne last summer but immediately loaned him back to the Ligue 1 side.

Upon his return, Saliba was expected to be immediately thrown into the heart of Arsenal's defence.

Gunners boss Arteta, however, has opted against putting the 19-year-old in the firing line.

"It is a big dream [to play for Arsenal]," Saliba said in an interview with Ian Wright. "It was a big dream becoming a reality for me.

"[Mikel Arteta] is very positive. Sometimes he would send me a message when I was at Saint-Etienne. So it's good."

Saliba's enjoyment of his time at the Emirates partly stems from the relationship he's struck up with French speakers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

He added: "Yes it's very good because I don't speak good English at the moment. When I don't understand something, Auba, Laca and the coach help me."