Arsenal fans believe William Saliba is one of the best centre-backs currently plying his trade in world football.
William Saliba has quickly established himself as a star at Arsenal, since making his debut for the club at the start of last season. The 22-year-old defender adapted to English football seemingly effortlessly, and is perfectly suited to the modern game as a centre-back.
With his pace, physicality, and technical ability, the Frenchman is able to thrive in the tactical setup that Mikel Arteta has slotted him into. The Gunners play with a relatively high defensive line, and the centre-backs are trusted to act as first phase playmakers, moving the ball up the field with progressive distribution.
Alongside Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba has flourished with the responsibility that has been handed to him at the Emirates Stadium.
He has also become a fan-favourite amongst the north London club’s supporters. Arsenal fans have now taken to Twitter to hail the 10-cap France international’s quality.
Arsenal fans rank William Saliba above Ruben Dias
One supporter named Saliba the “best in the world.” Based on his current form, one fan predicted, “he will make team of the season if he carries on.”
Other fans have compared Saliba to Manchester City star Ruben Dias. The Portuguese ace has been a lynchpin at the back for Pep Guardiola’s side since his arrival in the summer of 2020. The 26-year-old is undeniably an elite-level centre-back, who has achieved great success in his time at the Etihad Stadium.
However, many Arsenal fans now believe Saliba is already a better player than the 52-cap Portugal international. One said Saliba is “clear of Ruben Dias.” Another agreed that the Arsenal man is indeed “better than Dias.”
Saliba still has a long way to go before he can claim to have achieved as much as the Manchester City man, but the comparison demonstrates just how high the esteem he is held in is.
These same Arsenal fans will certainly have disagreed with Marcel Desailly’s recent disparaging comments about Saliba.
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