3 key takeaways from Arsenal’s 2022/23 season

2. Saliba and Gabriel are crucial

Arsenal fans had labelled William Saliba the ‘Mbappe of centre-backs’ before he arrived at the club, and after three loan spells and seemingly bad relations between him and Mikel Arteta, there were doubts he would ever play for the club.

But he did, and not only did he play, he exceeded all expectations by bringing a sense of calmness and grace to the Arsenal backline, that was mixed with his 6’4 physical frame, electric pace and dazzling ball skills.

His silky style proved to be the perfect foil for Gabriel, whose front-footed, aggressive style required a stable head in the sweeper position. By the time Arsenal stepped out at Crystal Palace on the opening day, they looked like a seasoned partnership and went on to keep 11 clean sheets as a pair.

Defensively, they have become one of the best pairings around, but everything starts with them and Aaron Ramsdale, and a huge part of Arsenal’s drop-off came as a result of losing Saliba’s ball-playing ability. Going into next season, adequate cover is a must.

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