In the realm of football, few monikers strike fear into the hearts of defenders quite like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland when they square off against formidable adversaries. Their extraordinary skills and uncanny knack for finding the back of the net have ensnared the imaginations of fans worldwide.
But do not be alarmed, for William Saliba is a defender who can shut them down and eliminate their menace. Saliba has established himself as a formidable presence in the backline thanks to his superb defensive abilities and dominating demeanor. Saliba’s quickness and agility enable him to match Mbappe’s lightning-fast pace while facing the French forward. It is challenging for Mbappe to find space and take advantage of the defenders because of his anticipation and placement.
Arsenal’s defence allowed Manchester City just four shots on Sunday, the lowest they have managed in a game under Pep Guardiola.
Two of those shots came in the opening six minutes, when Arsenal were a little nervy – as they have often been at home. But after that, the Gunners settled and only allowed a further two in the remaining 90 minutes.
William Saliba was at the heart of that defensive masterclass, keeping Erling Haaland quiet again, just as he did in the Community Shield.
The 22-year-old won all of his duels and completed 99% of his passes in what was an excellent performance.
Arsenal made some great signings this summer, but extending Saliba’s contract until 2027 may just be the best of the bunch.
A clean sheet and recovery from a shaky start will do wonders for this Arsenal team’s belief and hopefully lead to more clean sheets at the Emirates.
Now Arsenal fans will just hope Saliba can stay fit for the full season this time around – as that could be the difference.
