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Arsenal star William Saliba is one of the best defenders in the world.
The France international has been incredible for the Gunners since he made his debut in 2022, and he is the reason why his side have held the best defensive record in the Premier League in recent seasons.
Arsenal legend and Invincible Martin Keown is a big fan of Saliba and has heaped praise on him, describing his age and potential as ‘scary’.
Have Arsenal ever had a better defensive partnership than William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes? If yes, tell us who!
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images Martin Keown says it’s ‘scary’ that Arsenal star William Saliba can become even better
Arsenal signed William Saliba in the summer of 2019, but he didn’t get any opportunities in his first three years as a Gunner.
The defender, who was only a teenager at the time, was sent back on loan to Saint-Etienne in the 2019/20 season, and he later spent spells away at OGC Nice for six months and Olympique Marseille for a whole campaign.
Saliba returned in 2022 and has become one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet since. He has been outstanding and is definitely among the best in the business.
What’s amazing about Saliba is that he is still only 24 years old and is nowhere near his prime yet. Keown, who knows a thing or two about defending, thinks that is ‘scary’.
He told Goal: “Anyone watching him every week knows the guy’s like a Rolls-Royce who just purrs across the pitch. He’s very solid, very consistent, and they have kind of a unique partnership; they’re massive friends off the pitch and on it.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
“I suppose the next stage for him is that leadership element. Gabriel Magalhaes looks to me to be the leader, but that’s the next step. But he’s still young, and that’s something that he will develop as he gets older, there’s no doubt.”
Speaking about the tactics of the modern game, Keown added: “I think the full-backs, when they’re building up play, are so often not in the back four. So then that’s the call, that’s what they have to be monitoring.
“They’re like the night watchmen to guide people back in to help and get the numbers right in that in central defence.
“So often, Saliba’s so mobile that he can go into midfield and deal with most players. He’s still developing, he still can get better. That’s the scary thing.”
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Arsenal convincing William Saliba to sign a new contract is a game-changer
Keown is right; the fact that Saliba can become so much better than he already is makes it scary for the attackers in the Premier League and Champions League.
What’s even scarier for those players is the fact that he is not leaving Arsenal anytime soon.
Arsenal convinced Saliba to sign a new, long-term contract at the club last year, and that secures his future until the summer of 2030.
That means the France international will enter the prime years of his career at Arsenal, which means the Gunners won’t have to worry about their defence for a long time.
Saliba being a constant in the backline for the foreseeable future is a game-changer for Arteta and could help him dominate the league in the coming years.
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