Arsenal news: William Saliba sends snub as Gunners miss out on Champions League

William Saliba says he wants to stay at Marseille next season as he sent a message to Arsenal in the Champions League after the Gunners failed to finish in the top four

William Saliba has sent Arsenal a cutting message after Mikel Arteta’s side missed out on Champions League football.

The Gunners made light work of Everton in a 5-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium but still had to resign themselves to playing Europa League football next season after Tottenham beat Norwich City 5-0. The result meant the Gunners finished the Premier League season in fifth place – narrowly missing out on next season’s Champions League.

And Saliba has now said he would like to stay at Marseille, where he has spent this season on loan, in order to play in Europe’s top competition next term. Meanwhile, the Gunners look likely to miss out on a £15million bargain, with Serie A side Fiorentina having to squander the chance to sign on-loan midfielder Lucas Torreira permanently.

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The Gunners miss the Champions League

Arsenal ended the Premier League season in fifth position despite Everton winning 5-1 on Sunday.

Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard were on target for Mikel Arteta’s side but victory was not enough to propel them to fourth place. The Gunners entered the final day of the season needing a final-day collapse from Tottenham Hotspur to have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League, but that did not materialize.

Everton’s game was nonetheless still full of talking points, including Martinelli’s wonderful performance, Nketiah giving Arsenal a reason to renew his contract and Arteta’s regret.

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Saliba’s snub

Arsenal defender William Saliba has said he wants to return to Marseille next season to compete in the Champions League.

The Gunners missed out on the Premier League top four and Champions League qualification as Spurs picked up three points against Norwich on the final day of the season. And it looks like that could pave the way for Saliba to seek a summer move after his loan spell at Marseille.

The defender has impressed in Ligue 1 this season – leading to a call-up to the France national team. But the defender has now said he wants to ‘discover’ the Champions League after helping Marseille qualify for next season’s competition.

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Torreira Kick

Arsenal may have to find a new buyer for Lucas Torreira with Fiorentina not making his loan spell permanent in Serie A.

The Uruguay international has spent the season on loan with the Italian side with reports suggesting a deal has been written into the deal for La Viola to sign the midfielder permanently. But reports from Italy suggest Fiorentina have tried to agree a reduction on Torreira’s transfer fee and salary and a deal will no longer go ahead.

It means the Gunners could miss out on a £15m windfall in the summer transfer market.

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