WILLIAM SALIBA got sent off for Arsenal’s Under-21s on Tuesday night as his nightmare spell in North London continued.
The Frenchman slipped and lost the ball before lunging to win it back but the ref was not having it and showed him a second yellow.
William Saliba was sent off for Arsenal’s Under-21s on Tuesday nightCredit: Rex Features
The 19-year-old lunged for the ball after slipping and losing control of itCredit: Rex Features
The ref wasted no time in showing the Frenchman a second yellowCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Saliba had comfortable possession as he attempted to play out from the back in the 89th minute of the 3-0 defeat in the Football League Trophy.
But he lost his footing which saw the ball fall to Dons ace Ethan Chislett.
Eager to win the ball back, Saliba launched himself through the air and slide tackled the midfielder.
He did win the ball but with his body out of control, the ref awarded a foul to Wimbledon.
Saliba was clearly annoyed but things went from bad to worse for the former Saint-Etienne man as the ref produced a second yellow card and gave him his marching orders.
Gunners youngster Tim Akinola had also been sent off ten minutes earlier for two yellows.
Despite the poor result and disciplinary lapses, Arsenal fans were buoyed by Gabriel Martinelli’s return to action.
The Brazilian, 19, started the game as part of his recovery from a serious knee injury picked up in June.
Saliba has had a tough time since returning to Arsenal in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And although he only played 46 minutes before being replaced by Kido Taylor-Hart, Gooners will be thrilled to see him back in action given the woeful recent attacking form of the first team.
Arsenal shelled out £27million for Saliba in the summer of 2019 before loaning him back to the Saint-Etienne for the season.
But he did not play as much football in Ligue 1 as Mikel Arteta would have liked because of injuries and the coronavirus pandemic.
Having assessed Saliba’s ability when he returned to the North Londoners this summer, Arteta decided he was not at the required level to play for Arsenal.
As a result, the teenager was left out of the Gunners’ Premier League and Europa League squads and has been left floundering in the reserves.
And Saliba is said to be unhappy with the situation and wants out on loan in January.
Saint Etienne have been linked again after they failed in a fresh move to loan him for the second time in the summer.
But given Saliba’s bumper new contract at Arsenal, they are unable to pay his wages.
However, the youngster is said to be willing to waive as much as £90k-a-MONTH in order to get playing again.
He is said to earn around £40,000-a-week so he would be waving goodbye to more than half of his current earnings.
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Gabriel Martinelli returned to action after his serious knee injury in JuneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
