The young French defender signed for Arsenal before being loaned back to Saint-Etienne for the 2019/20 campaign.
Saliba joined the Arsenal squad in the summer with the hope of making his debut but for the moment, the Frenchman is yet to pull on the Gunners colours.
Saliba has been left out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad and there were suggestions that the club even tried to loan him out towards the end of the transfer window.
The young defender is now languishing on the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s squad and Puel is of the view that it was short-term thinking that led to Saliba leaving Saint-Etienne.
The Saint-Etienne boss believes that it is clear that money played a key role in the defender opting to leave France at such an early stage of his career.
Puel told French sports daily L’Equipe: “It was short-term [thinking], even for the kids.
“A superb player like William, to whom I wish the best, has not even made it to Arsenal’s Europa League squad.
“Where is the logic, if not financial?”
Arsenal are unlikely to send Saliba on loan to Championship club before the domestic window closes today.
