Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has now set William Saliba a challenge to improve the one area that the France centre-half is still yet to show ‘consistently’ at Emirates Stadium.
Few players are more important to Arsenal than Saliba with the 22-year-old an essential part of Arteta’s plans. He has started in 17 of their 19 games so far this season, including all 12 of their Premier League fixtures. Arteta has only rested the defender in their Carabao Cup ties.
No player has featured for more minutes with the Gunners in all competitions so far this term than Saliba, too. His tally of 1,530 eclipses the 1,487 that Ben White has recorded over his 18 appearances. The 26-year-old missed his first fixture this term as Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1.
Saliba helped Arsenal beat Burnley 3-1 on Saturday
Saliba helped Arsenal edge Burnley at Emirates Stadium last Saturday with his first goal this season. The 10-cap enforcer headed home Leandro Trossard’s corner in the 57th minute to restore the Gunners’ lead. Josh Brownhill had drawn the Clarets level three minutes earlier.
The defender’s finish was also Arsenal’s eighth goal from a set-piece in the Premier League so far this term. No side has scored more often from set-piece scenarios than the Gunners. Arsenal also rank fourth for shots taken after a set-piece this term with 50, per WhoScored.
Arteta challenges Saliba to be ‘much more dominant’
Only Brentford (67), Liverpool (59) and Everton (54) have taken more shots from set-pieces in the Premier League than Arsenal. The north London natives also ended last season in fifth with 150 shots recorded. Their efforts in 2022/23 resulted in the fourth-most goals with 15.
Arteta takes great pride in how productive Arsenal are from corners and free-kicks but feels Saliba can still improve. The Spaniard believes the centre-back can still become ‘much more dominant’ in an opponent’s area, and showed that clearly with his goal at home to Burnley.
“We are big lads,” Arteta said, via quotes by football.london. “Willy is a real presence but he hasn’t showed yet that skill consistently. And we are really working with him because he can be much more dominant and the goal today is a real example of that.
“Credit to the coaches and to him as well for the work they are doing. We are the team that generates the most set-pieces. Teams are really low against us and preventing the spaces, so it is a really good way for us to score goals as well.”
Saliba got his first goal this term from a well-worked corner routine as Arsenal beat Burnley. Trossard delivered a perfect cross towards the near post as five Gunners players ran into the zone. Saliba was the furthest back of those players and beat James Trafford to win the ball.
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