SSHHH! Don’t mention the fact that Brighton fans were singing “Bissouma” to the tune of The Champs’ catchy hit Tequila for a couple of years. It sounds much better with “Sa–liba” as the shouted pay-off line.

The travelling Gooners certainly had fun with it against Bournemouth on Saturday night.

There was a period where the William Saliba song was chanted for 10 minutes straight. Not bad for a guy who has played three games so far. The glaring need for Mikel Arteta and co to offer him a long-term contract is plain for all to see, however, with or without the serenade.

Saliba, who perhaps went on one loan deal too many given how fragile the Arsenal defence was at the end of last season, hasn’t been tested by the league’s best but he just looks the part. Calm, measured, sensible.

Perhaps, the complete opposite of what Arsenal fans have seen binding the defence over the past decade.

In fact, when you look at Arsene Wenger’s amazing record at the club, how many really top-level defenders did he buy?

The great man’s inability to find a central defence pairing was in the end his downfall. In all those years, he signed Sol Campbell and then, defensively, everybody else was either good, average or bad, but rarely world beating.

Lauren could be classed as an exception to this trend but was converted from a midfielder to a right-back so is hard to count.

Most recently, the Gunners fans have seen Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis exchange notes on how not to keep the ball away from the goal, while Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari have understandably been moved on.

Saliba seems different and other clubs will be circling for a steal if he can’t soon be persuaded to extend his time at the Emirates. It’s more important than the arrival of any more new players before the end of the transfer window.

• IT would be a shame to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang join London rivals Chelsea. He is a goal machine and exactly what they need.

His arrival, like Raheem Sterling’s transfer to Stamford Bridge after spells with both Liverpool and Manchester City, however, would be just illustration of how modern-day footballers are guns for hire with little attachment to any one club.

Sensible Chelsea fans would not be printing Auba’s name on the back of their replica shirts too quickly, having already scratched off Morata, Werner and Lukaku.

Didier Drogba terrorised Arsenal, but could you imagine him also playing for another top Premier League club?

His loyalty made him a club legend. It’s a pity more don’t cement such status.