Arsenal: Arteta outsmarts all with William Saliba handling

The William Saliba Development Plan is in Action

Against PSG and the inimitable Kyllian Mbappe, I don’t think many anticipated that the two young Frenchmen would be in such close battle at times. For, after all, it is usually Mbappe who does all of the dominating, and usually the opponent who is suffering all game long.

However, Saliba made a few key tackles, and looked supremely composed against not only Mbappe, but anyone who was coming near him on the pitch. This is a revelation, obviously, and one that likely wouldn’t have happened in the way that it has had the steps not been properly taken to be patient with this player. A bench role at Arsenal or going toe-to-toe with Mbappe? Which is better for his development needn’t be discussed.

While Arsenal have sent the young prodigious talent away to France year after year, the boss has spent time developing Gabriel Magalhaes and Benjamin White.

They, as well as other defensive reinforcements and without a player of Saliba’s ability, is a deep and very capable young backline that Arsenal would have to be proud of for the years to come. Add Saliba in, take one of Pablo Mari or Rob Holding out, and it becomes one of the strongest departments at the club. After one of his own mentors, Pep Guardiola, has spent so much time, money and effort to try to find centre-backs, his protege Arteta will surely be proud to have collected so many himself.

Had Arsenal not sent Saliba back time and time again, he would never have been able to grow and gain the experience that he has while on loan since the club first purchased him. Had he remained at Arsenal, he would’ve been stunted, and therefore, even with him on the team, the Gunners would’ve been less powerful than they will be in the future.

When he finally returns to north London for good, he will be really ready to contribute, with the experience of a player much older than is usually found in 20-year-old center-backs, and with the guile that can only be acquired from playing consistently. Furthermore, at least one Arsenal player is featuring in European competition this season.

He will be able to make a real difference and put his club into a position to compete for top honors in both England and the Premier League. As planned, he will be coming into his peak around the same time as the rest of the group.

This is what makes Arteta worthy of a bit of praise. He not only has the club playing well and with confidence, on its longest unbeaten streak in some time, but he has players rounding into form from both within and without the club. That is impressive, and while there are still holes to be filled and improvements to be made, a fully formed and frightening Saliba will only help the rest of the team in the coming seasons.