“I have played with TWO greatest midfielders in football history but there’s ONE particular Arsenal’s teammates who’s better than all combined…I may leave Arsenal because of only him, he’s too good and looking at how he play I know I don’t have future here anymore”: Declan Rice reveals why he’s planning to leave Arsenal, names ONE new signing as the reason
Arsenal star Ben White has this week moved to sing the praises of a fellow member of the defensive ranks in Mikel Arteta’s squad. The player in question? William Saliba.
Saliba, for his part, has of course long been making a name for himself as one of the standout defenders in not only England, but all of world football. The Frenchman, still just 23 years of age, boasts a near-unique combination of defensive nous, and ability on the ball.
Such characteristics have long seen Saliba establish himself as one of the first names on the team sheet at The Emirates. All told, across the season to date, the former Saint-Etienne talent has featured from the off in all nine of Arsenal’s fixtures between the Premier League and Champions League.
And another member of Mikel Arteta’s backline in north London who has been left nothing short of amazed by Saliba’s growth into a leader in the Gunners’ squad comes in the form of the aforementioned Ben White. Speaking to Prime Video, as cited by Fabrizio Romano, this week, stopper White was asked for his take on the talents of his defensive partner.
And the 27-year-old made use of the opportunity to absolutely lavish praise on Saliba, a player whom he considers as having ‘no weaknesses’:
“Saliba’s absolutely incredible, nothing I could say is like a weakness. The way he’s playing, he’s still so young. He can just cruise training, nobody goes past him anymore. No one even tries because they just know there’s no point”.
Saliba and White will both be expected to play their part this weekend, when Arsenal mark the club’s post-international break return to action. A Premier League meeting with Bournemouth lies in wait, on Saturday evening at The Vitality Stadium.
As things stand, the Gunners sit in joint-2nd in the table in England’s top-flight, level with Manchester City, and a point adrift of early leaders Liverpool.
