One Arsenal player now has a rather unwelcome record of having made the most fouls at Euro 2024 this summer.
In the Premier League, Kai Havertz was Arsenal’s biggest offender in that regard last season.
Havertz committed 49 fouls across the season, but that total was only enough to earn him 16th spot in the league.
Remarkably, England international Conor Gallager had the most in England’s top flight, being called up 83 times, easily surpassing Wolves’ Joao Gomes with 66 in second place.
To that end, Arsenal fans probably won’t be surprised to learn that Havertz had the most yellow cards at the club too (11).
The £27m-defender earned just four yellow cards and committed just 22 fouls – less than one a game.
In that regard it’s easiest to compare Saliba to Gabriel Magalhaes, who was also handed 4 yellows and committed 35 fouls.
So for Saliba to have the most fouls (8) at the Euros – a stat which comes via Squawka, it perhaps explains that the Arsenal defender isn’t quite so comfortable on the left.
That might be a very simplistic conclusion – Saliba also has an entirely different team around him, but it’s worth considering.
Against Spain on Wednesday as France crashed out, the Arsenal defender committed as many fouls (4) as his previous five games at Euro 2024 combined.
That being said, French media have now been sharing their verdict on Saliba’s performance.
Regardless of his fouls, Saliba delivered another impressive showing, one that should keep him in Didier Deschamps’ starting eleven plans for the foreseeable – who is expected to remain in charge of France.
