Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has hinted Willian and William Saliba are destined for central starting roles in his new-look team this campaign.
The Brazil international, Willian left Chelsea for the gunners earlier this month after seven trophy-laden years at Stamford Bridge.
Saliba, meanwhile, was signed one year ago from Ligue 1 team Saint-Etienne but returned to the club on loan for the 2019/20 season.
The central defender gave a good first display in an Arsenal shirt during Wednesday’s 4-1 pre-season victory over MK Dons and received huge praise from Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal supporters are keen to see their new signings in action on Saturday against Premier League Champions Liverpool at Wembley in the Community Shield.
Arteta concedes it may be too early to play both players against the Reds but indicated the duo will be key to Arsenal’s chances of building on last campaign’s FA Cup success.
He said: ‘I don’t know (if they will play against Liverpool). We’ll make the decision tomorrow on who is going to play and who is going to be involved, but for sure they’re going to see our signings playing a lot of minutes this season.
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‘So it’s not a hurry to see them in one game. I know they will be excited and desperate to see them but they will see plenty of them this year.
Arsenal’s late campaign flurry was sparked by a surprise 2-1 victory over Liverpool and reflecting on the significance, Arteta added: ‘You’re right, I think it gave us a big platform of confidence and belief that we could challenge and play against the top teams at that level as well and beat them.
‘And you know, always finding a way to win a game, after we did it with Man City and we did it with Chelsea but I agree that that moment probably was a moment where the team clicked a little bit and went into more of a belief mode.’
