Arsenal great Martin Keown has warned fans not to put too much pressure on William Saliba.
The young defender will join up with the Gunners ahead of next season after signing a £27 million deal last summer.
But the 19-year-old was immediately loaned back to Saint-Etienne, with the decision part of the deal to acquire the promising teenager.
Saliba was signed under the tenure of Unai Emery but is set to be an important part of Mikel Arteta's rebuilding project at the Emirates after a disappointing finishing spot of eighth in the Premier League this past season.
Arsenal struggled defensively throughout the campaign as David Luiz came in for plenty of criticism following his switch from Chelsea last summer.
But Keown is eager for Arsenal supporters to not take aim at Saliba in the same way as he hopes that the Frenchman will be given time to grow at the club.
Keown explained, per The Independent: "There have long-been questions over the Arsenal defence and Saliba was expensive, but he is also young and has not played that many professional games.
"It can’t be expected that he will walk straight into Arsenal, right into the team and be on it from the off."
Keown also added that he feels Arsenal have already made a mistake with Saliba by not managing to land him on a deal which would have seen him in the squad for last season.
"There definitely is (pressure). It is one of those where I would have been happier if Arsenal had paid more money and brought him in straight at the start of last season," Keown added.
