Former Arsenal star Thomas Vermaelen has now shared his verdict on William Saliba.
Since bursting onto the scene for Arsenal last season, William Saliba has attracted masses of praise. Premier League icon Alan Shearer recently described the French centre-back as being “class personified”.
Saliba had to be patient and wait for his chance to shine at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners initially secured his services in the summer of 2019, shelling out £27 million to Saint-Etienne before immediately allowing him to return to the French outfit on loan.
Further temporary stints in Ligue 1 followed, with Nice and Marseille, before Mikel Arteta finally handed Saliba his Arsenal debut at the start of last season. Since then, the 22-year-old has gone from strength to strength and has established himself as one of the best defenders plying his trade in the top flight of English football.
Arsenal have also taken steps to secure Saliba’s long-term future. The player signed a new contract with the north London club in July 2023.
It is now vital that Saliba is able to stay fit throughout this campaign. Last season, it was his injury towards the end of the season which sparked the collapse of Arsenal’s title push, after he had helped the club emerge as surprise contenders for the crown.
With his future assured, and the fact that he is still so young and likely to keep on improving, there is no telling how much Saliba can achieve at Arsenal in the coming years.
Thomas Vermaelen sings praises of Arsenal star William Saliba
Thomas Vermaelen certainly expects yet more big things from the twelve-cap France international. The former Arsenal captain, who played in the heart of the defence himself, has now heaped praise on Saliba.
As quoted by the club’s official website, the Belgian said, “he’s a great player. He has everything a modern defender needs to have – he’s quick, he’s a great defender, he’s good on the ball.”
“He has a great partnership with Gabriel [Magalhaes] as well which is very important. They’re doing an amazing job.”
Gabriel Magalhaes certainly deserves a mention in the context of Saliba’s rise. The Arsenal duo compliment one another perfectly as a partnership at the back. Gabriel himself is an excellent defender, and the pair have complete faith in each other, on and off the ball. This trust allows Arsenal to play the ball around at the back in pressurised situations in a manner which aligns with Arteta’s preferred style of play.
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