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Arsenal: The 4 cornerstone players of the Mikel Arteta era

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Saint-Etienne’s French defender William Saliba (R) vies with Monaco’s French forward Wissam Ben Yedder during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and AS Monaco at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on November 3, 2019. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)
Saint-Etienne’s French defender William Saliba (R) vies with Monaco’s French forward Wissam Ben Yedder during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and AS Monaco at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on November 3, 2019. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. William Saliba

William Saliba might not have played a minute for Arsenal after he was immediately loaned back to Saint-Etienne for the season following his £26 million move last summer, but the Gunners did not invest so heavily in an 18-year-old centre-back on the off-chance that he might be half-decent. They believe he is special. And that’s because he is.

Saliba has struggled with injuries this season, which is a growing concern, but when he has played, he has impressed. “He’s a great player,” former Arsenal and current St. Etienne full-back Mathieu Debuchy told The Ligue 1 Podcast earlier this season. “I’m so happy for him to play next season for a big club like Arsenal. He improves every game and I think he is a great player. He’s strong with good technique. He’s quick. I think he has a lot of quality to play at Arsenal.”

Saliba will arrive at the Emirates later this summer as the long-term anchor of the backline. He is the perfect modern-day centre-half, is perfectly suited to Arteta’s high-pressing defensive scheme, and will be a key component in the team for a long time to come.

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