Mikel Arteta explained William Saliba is part of a "big project" and is one for the future at Arsenal, after the defender criticised the Spaniard's decision to loan him out.
Saliba signed for the Gunners from Saint Etienne in the summer of 2019, and was then immediately sent back out on loan to the French club.
But the coronavirus pandemic, and Ligue subsequently being cancelled, meant Saliba didn't get to play a lot of football in his 'transition year', as Arteta called it.
This meant that - in Arteta's eyes - Saliba still isn't ready to play for Arsenal and needs another season in France, which is why he was recently sent on loan to Nice.
Arteta explained at the time: "We signed a big project that we had some issues with because he hasn't played enough football in the last eighteen months.
"At that age and in the development phase he is at that is crucial.
"And I was very conscious when he came back, when he didn't do the step that he had to do before joining us that to start a relationship with a new manager, with a new club, with new team-mates in a situation where he is not having any game time it's really difficult and I think it's really damaging for the future."
But Saliba, it seems, isn't happy with his manager's master plan, and feels like he wasn't given a fair chance to prove himself before being sent to Nice.
Saliba said on RMC's 'Top of the Foot' show: "It is clear that so much has changed in the last year. When I saw that the coach changed a lot changed for me too.
"In this year there has been a lot of change. He judged me on two-and-a-half matches. I would have liked for him to play me more. But he told me I wasn't ready.
"I was waiting for him to give me a chance, but football is like that.
"When I initially came to Arsenal the league looked very good so I showed up to training and wanted to train on my own to show the coach I was ready.
"I am happy now, I want to play for Nice. The idea when you're part of a team is a better feeling for me."
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