BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has claimed one Arsenal star has put his Premier League counterparts ‘to shame’ this season.
The Gunners have enjoyed one of their best years in Premier League history with Arsenal securing their most wins ever in a 38-game league season as David Raya scooped up the Golden Glove award.
The likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been the best-performing players in the Premier League this season, and Mikel Arteta has again managed to take this young Arsenal squad to another level after last year’s success.
And Crooks has been impressed with one Arsenal player in particular this season.
William Saliba showered with praise after ‘class’ season with Arsenal
Writing for BBC Sport, Crooks hailed William Saliba as one of the players of the season, with the pundit stating that the Arsenal star’s performances have put other Premier League defenders to shame.
With Saliba playing every league minute this season, the 23-year-old centre-back proved his credentials as one of the best defenders in the world, and Arsenal would not have been where they were this year without the French youngster.
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Crooks wrote: “Last season Arsenal lost out on the title because William Saliba missed vital matches during their run-in. This season Saliba has started every game and the Gunners have still been outgunned by a Manchester City side who have become serial winners.
“The France international defender, however, has an impeccable manner about him and puts all those defenders who kick and tear their way through games to shame. Saliba is a class act and players with his talent should be winning things.”
Saliba is on course to becoming the best defender in the world
Signed five years ago from Saint-Etienne, few Arsenal fans would have predicted Saliba to become as good as he is, with the 23-year-old still having much to learn about the art of defending.
Yet based on what’s happened in the last two seasons, Saliba is firmly on course to becoming arguably the best in the world, with the French centre-back virtually perfect in what any top club needs in a defender.
Indeed, Saliba ticks every box needed for a world-class centre-back and is still young enough where he can add more to his game, and Arsenal can count their lucky stars that the defender is on their books.