Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's victory against Leicester
Arsenal technical director Edu is 'playing the long game' with William Saliba, hoping that he will become a successful signing. Mikel Arteta isn't yet sold on Saliba, but Edu is confident the defender has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
William Saliba's Arsenal future is uncertain. (Image: GETTY)
And according to L'Equipe, Edu is paying close attention to the centre-back's progress in France.
The outlet claims his relationship with Arteta was poor and 'communication [was] close to nothing', as the young centre-half regularly trained and went home without an explanation of his fringe status.
But 'nothing is broken' with the Gunners despite Saliba's 'complicated start' in England, and Edu is 'keeping control of his future' at the Emirates Stadium.
He even watched the defender in action against PSG last month, a 0-0 draw in which he silenced Lionel Messi, Neymar, Angel di Maria and Kylian Mbappe.
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Arteta has previously confirmed the club are monitoring Saliba's progress and explained that he must continue to register good performances.
He told reporters: "Yes, we have been as a club always in touch. Edu and Ben [Knapper] were there to watch him [vs PSG] and to keep a close eye on him and the progress that he's making.
"Obviously, he's our player and with all the loaned players that we have.
'At the moment, he's there, and he played a different game that week, and this is it.
"He continues to do what he needs to do which is to play a lot of games and play them well."
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Edu is confident William Saliba will come good at Arsenal. (Image: EXPRESS)