Arsenal legend Tony Adams believes the ‘jury is still out’ on William Saliba after Ivan Toney outmuscled the defender. He also fears how the Frenchman will cope with Erling Haaland.
The 21-year-old has earned rave reviews so far this season after slotting into Mikel Arteta’s backline at Ben White’s expense. Saliba has forced the £50m England international to play at full-back having made the right-sided centre-half slot beside Gabriel Magalhaes his own.
Saliba has even played near enough every minute of Arsenal’s Premier League season with 1,876 from a potential 1,890. Arteta only removed his eight-cap France international in the late stages of a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Saliba has also hit two goals and an assist.
His role at Emirates Stadium this term has been a long time coming with Saliba not making his debut until this season. Unai Emery signed the centre-half from Saint-Etienne for £27m in July 2019. Yet he returned on loan for a season before spells at OGC Nice and Marseille.
Saliba has more than shown Arteta what he can offer Arsenal this term, though. The Bondy native has produced a raft of imposing performances in north London and commanded the Gunners’ backline. But Brentford and Toney, in particular, caused him issues last Saturday.
Adams fears how Saliba will handle Haaland when Arsenal host Manchester City
Toney gave Saliba a real, physical battle as Brentford controversially held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw. The Frenchman was also somewhat at fault for the forward’s goal which incorrectly handed the Bees a point. He was poor in the air as Brentford kept a dangerous cross alive.
Now, Adams fears how Saliba will handle Haaland when Arsenal host Manchester City in a top-of-the-table tussle on Wednesday. The Citizens star leads the Premier League’s Golden Boot race with 25 goals so far this term. He accounts for 45% of his team’s total haul of 56.
“I do have a bit of a concern about centre-back William Saliba after watching Ivan Toney giving him a going over at the weekend,” Adams wrote in a column for The Sun. “He’s a lovely footballer who is quick, tidies up well and doesn’t go to ground a lot.
“Back in my day, he might have been a central midfield player. But the jury is still out on the Frenchman because he can get outmuscled and there is a worry whether he and Gabriel can handle Erling Haaland if the City striker is passed fit to play.”
While Adams fears how Saliba will handle Haaland, the defender impressed in Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City. The Frenchman replaced Rob Holding at half-time and kept a lid on the Norway striker in most. So, Arteta should feel confident for Wednesday’s clash.
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