ARSENAL outcast William Saliba has admitted that he was ‘hurt’ by his lack of opportunities with the Gunners.
The Frenchman arrived in North London last summer, having spent a year on loan at Saint-Etienne following his £27million switch in 2019.
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But boss Mikel Arteta froze him out, not even naming him on the bench for a Premier League game – or in his 25-man Europa League squad.
Saliba, 19, found himself limited to Under-23s football, before being loaned out to Nice earlier this month.
Speaking to TF1, he said: “I really, really, really didn’t think that I would be transferred for €30m, to think that I would arrive, where people were expecting a lot from me, the fans excited about me and you find yourself in the reserves.
“To play zero, zero nothing in the Europa League or the league. I was in the squad once in the League Cup. It hurt me, it affected me.
“I don’t think I left too early. When you feel ready you have to go. I don’t think I left too early. These things happen. I believe in myself.”
Saliba has been ever-present since joining Nice, and hasn’t ruled out returning permanently in the summer.
He said: “I am just focused on doing the absolute most and best possible for the next six months.
“After that, we will see.”
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Saliba was included on the substitutes’ bench for the League Cup tie against Leicester City, as well as the Community Shield.
He made six appearances for the Gunners’ Under-23s in the PL2, as well as two outings in the EFL Trophy.
The clash with AFC Wimbledon didn’t go well, however, as he was shown a red card in a dismal 3-0 defeat.
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