Arsenal defender William Saliba was in international action for France in Friday night’s Nations League encounter with Italy in Paris.
The Gunners star has become a star for club and country, helping transform Arsenal’s back line since making his debut in 2022.
Saliba has also worked his way into the France fold and did so well at Euro 2024 that he made the team of the tournament.
However, the Gunners ace didn’t have the best of nights on Friday as Italy put Les Bleus to the sword on their own patch.
France took the lead within the first minute through Bradley Barcola, but Federico Dimarco equalised for the Azzurri on the half-hour mark.
Italy, inspired by the returning Sandro Tonali, then led on 50 minutes through Davide Frattesi and then wrapped up the win in the 74th minute through Giacomo Raspadori.
Many of France’s usually solid and reliable players struggled and, though Saliba wasn’t the worst on the pitch, the French press were critical of him too.
French media says Arsenal star William Saliba was ‘in difficulty’ for France v Italy
Eurosport gave the Arsenal man a rating of 4 and wrote: ‘Cleaner and more confident than his teammates in his interventions, he sometimes held the fort.
‘But beyond his sometimes useless mistakes, what did he do on the third goal where he seemed to be able to clear the danger? An error that tarnishes his performance.’
Likewise, Maxifoot gave Saliba a 4, adding: ‘After his great Euro 2024, the French central defender did not shine in this match.
‘Without being omnipresent, the Arsenal talent was impeccable in his interventions and swam in his duels against Retegui or Pellegrini in the first half.
‘However, like his team, he was in difficulty after the break, notably being caught on Raspadori’s goal.’
And Footmercato went with a 3 for Saliba, writing: ‘Like (Ibrahima) Konate, the Arsenal defender misunderstood the individual marking.
‘It was less obvious than on the Konate-Clauss side, but he was much less calm than during the last Euro, where he was a revelation for the Blues.
‘A complicated match for the hinge of the Blues, who will have, himself, also had difficulty in the duels, like the third Italian goal, where he missed completely.’
Saliba and France will kick on
France have been superb in recent years and they have a near-unlimited supply of superb players for the present and for the future.
Although they didn’t do well against Italy, it likely was just a one-off. There’s no doubting Saliba’s talent, while France will remain among the favourites for the 2026 World Cup.
Saliba – a £27million bargain for Arsenal – and Les Blues will undoubtedly pick themselves up, dust themselves off and kick on.
