Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have labelled one Arsenal star as the best player in the Premier League.
Arsenal have encountered a blip in form recently and that has seen them slip five points behind leaders Liverpool in the title race.
The Gunners suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time this season after losing against Fulham last time out.
Several players performed below their usual standards at Craven Cottage and one of those was Bukayo Saka.
Saka struggled to affect the game creatively and looked like a shadow of his former self, though that has been the case with Arsenal’s forward trio in general.
Gabriel Jesus, in particular, has been criticised for his struggles in front of goal. Despite being Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker, he’s only scored three Premier League goals.
Gabriel Martinelli, meanwhile, has just two goals and two assists in the competition.
It is not a surprise, then, that the Gunners have been linked with a host of big-name forwards as they seek to improve their attack.
One area where Arteta doesn’t need to improve is centre back.
While the likes of Saka and Martinelli have seen a drop off in form from last season, William Saliba has remained consistently brilliant at the heart of their defence and the Frenchman has deservedly received lots of praise.
William Saliba labelled as ‘best’ in the Premier League
Speaking on the Rest Is Football Podcast, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer agreed that Saliba is the best in the Premier League.
Lineker said: “He is just very graceful. Easy on the eye. He glides across the grace. Really good on the ball and without it. He’s the sort of central defender you wouldn’t want to play against.”
Shearer added: “I agree with everything you said about him. He is just good on the eye. He’s a classy centre-half. Times it to perfect, so I’m not going to argue with that.”
Is Saliba the best in the Premier League?
Although some of his Arsenal teammates have declined, Saliba has gone up another level this season.
The 22-year-old plays with maturity far beyond his years and is so composed in possession.
Having rapidly established himself as a fan favourite at the Emirates stadium, it is no surprise that he’s been recognised as one of the best players in England’s top flight, and the statistics underscore that statement.
While Arsenal have the second-best defence in the division statistically and it’s the partnership that he’s struck up with Gabriel Magalhaes that has been crucial to their success.
For a very long time Virgil van Dijk was regarded as the leagues best centre back.
The Dutchman is no longer the freak of nature he once was.
Saliba, however, certainly is and the defensive phenomenon deserves to be placed in that bracket.
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