Campbell rips into desperate French press for hounding Saliba amid Arteta reveal
Kevin Campbell is adamant William Saliba’s latest comments regarding Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta are not aimed as a dig.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gunners striker sympathised with the 19-year-old and claimed he has been hounded for quotes since returning to France.
In an interview with RMC Sport, Saliba claimed Arteta “judged” him and told him he “was not ready to play” based on watching him in just two-and-a-half matches.
The centre-half is currently on loan at Nice after he failed to break into Arsenal’s first team in the first half of the 2020/21 campaign.
The £27million signing from St-Etienne is yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners.
When asked for his thoughts on Saliba’s apparent criticism of Mikel Arteta, Campbell told Football Insider: “What Sailba said might be right.
“Mikel Arteta may have only watched him a couple of times in person but he has his coaching staff, that is what they are for.
“He is the manager of the football club so he cannot be at all of the games. Steve Bould is there to provide feedback to him and if you cannot trust your staff, what is the point?
“I do not buy into this stuff about Saliba having a dig. Yes, Arteta was probably only at a few games but that is how it works. I do understand it from Saliba.
“While he has been away, people are desperate to get quotes from him, especially when things are not going too well. It adds fuel to the fire.”
In other news, Kevin Campbell claims Arsenal will hand Lacazette a new contract on one condition.