3 standout players from Arsenal’s comfortable win at Bournemouth

2. William Saliba

The long saga and endless debate about William Saliba and the efficacy of his treatment are a thing of the past. Supporters have put aside their bickering to fully stand behind the team and especially newcomer Saliba. While it has been years since he was first signed, the wait has been fully worth it.

Starting the season as Arsenal’s right centre-back, Saliba has impressed in every department. He has been a rock defensively and he’s been posed different challenges in each of the Gunners’ three opening encounters.

Against Bournemouth, he had to be quick and comfortable on the ball while containing dangerous transitions. Much has been made of the physicality of the Premier League and the test of the powerful and towering Kieffer Moore was quite distinct from the pacey Jamie Vardy. He passed this test with flying colours.

Saliba asserted himself in the air, winning crucial headers. He also showed his quality when Bournemouth sought to transition, sprinting into the channels and shutting down attacks with ease. On top of this defensive masterclass, he was exceptional on the ball. Completing 100% of your passes is no easy task, even for a central defender. Add to that his pass selection (he frequently sought to break the lines and slide it into the likes of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka instead of circulating it around the back) and you have one of the most complete central defenders in the world.

Oh, and he’s only 21.

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