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‘Saliba situation is bizarre & loan talk a mystery’ – Lack of Arsenal opportunities for defender stuns Keown

Arsenal’s willingness to let William Saliba leave on loan is “bizarre”, says Martin Keown, with it “a real mystery” why a defender held in such high regard has not been given a chance in 2020-21.

The Gunners finally welcomed a promising centre-half onto their books over the summer.

Having wrapped a deal with Saint-Etienne some 12 months earlier, those at Emirates Stadium were excited to get Saliba settled into new surroundings.

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He arrived with a blossoming reputation, along with a £27 million ($35m) price tag, and was expected to be an answer to Arsenal’s issues at the back.