Shockingly, the youngster has not made a single competitive appearance so far in his Arsenal career.
Ben White and Gabriel have been the pairing of choice this campaign, and the former has drawn criticism for his up-and-down performances since signing from Brighton this summer.
Their cover from the bench hardly inspires confidence either, with fans routinely venting about the likes of Rob Holding and Pablo Mari.
That could all change from next season if fans get their wish, with Saliba set to be a year older, more experienced and more physical.
In an attempt to address the confusion, Arteta admitted earlier this year: “I know that sometimes it’s difficult to explain or understand after the money that the club has spent trying to bring him in, to send him on loan.