Mathieu Debuchy is convinced that his Saint-Etienne team-mate William Saliba will prove to be a huge success at his former club Arsenal.
The Gunners beat competition from rivals Tottenham to secure a £27million deal for Saliba in the summer, loaning the 18-year-old back to Saint-Etienne for the remainder of the season.
Though injuries have limited Saliba to just nine appearances in all competitions this season he has won praise when he has taken to the field.
Debuchy, who spent three-and-a-half years at the Emirates Stadium before moving to France in 2018, is certain that the soon-to-be Arsenal player will impress in north London.
"He's a great player," the 34-year-old told the Ligue 1 podcast. "I'm so happy for him to play next season for a big club like Arsenal.
"He improves every game and I think he is a great player. He's strong with good technique. He's quick.
"I think he has a lot of quality to play at Arsenal."
Saliba is certainly proving that quality with Saint-Etienne, who have become notably reliant on the centre-back. Since the start of the 2018/19 season Les Verts have picked up 2.1 points per game with the teenager starting and 1.3 without him.
Saint-Etienne also concede 1.5 goals per game without Saliba and 0.86 with him in the side.
Saliba's return from a metatarsal fracture saw him win impress in a 1-0 win over Monaco in the Coupe de France as he made five interceptions and 11 ball recoveries.
