A week out from the start of Euro 2024, William Saliba has sent a message to the France hierarchy by declaring himself one of the three best defenders in the Premier League.
In all likelihood, the Arsenal centre-back will start the tournament on the bench – he admits he’s still not done enough to win over head coach Didier Deschamps – but as he goes from strength to strength in England, it’s clear the 23-year-old is growing in self-belief.
Saliba played every single minute of the Gunners’ Premier League campaign, helping his team to 18 clean sheets, the best in the division, as they challenged for the title for a second year in a row.
At times, the young defender was unplayable, particularly impressing in tight showdowns with Big Six rivals.
“I think I am in the top three [defenders in the league],” he told L’Equipe.
“We finished with the best defence. I watch a lot of matches. I am a very humble person but last season, just like this season, I am in the top three defenders.
“I need to continue to work to go even higher […] in terms of concentration, I am a lot better. Before, I could play a top match but in one phase of play, I slept a bit. That is no longer the case. I am always on alert.”
In terms of inspiration, it’s clear Saliba holds Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in high esteem. The Dutchman’s arrival at Anfield from Celtic in 2017 propelled the Reds to another level and you sense the Frenchman is working on having the same impact at the Emirates.
“Van Dijk has aura. He’s the boss. He commands everything,” he said. “You can feel he’s scaring strikers away. And I’m starting to feel the same way.”
