Tony Cascarino has praised Arsenal for securing the future of defender William Saliba, after doing the same with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
It has been suggested that William Saliba, who had 12 months left to run on his contract, has signed a four-year deal with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Cascarino thinks it’s a ‘great thing for the club’, as he told talkSPORT.
The former striker also noted how the France international became ‘even better’ during his time in the treatment room, as his team, despite holding a sizeable lead at the top of the Premier League table, watched the now-Treble-winning Manchester City side eat them up.
The strides the 22-year-old has made this season are quite incredible because, despite signing in 2019, he didn’t make his senior debut until the start of this season.
Despite that, it could be argued that the ball-playing centre-back is already one of his side’s most important players and perhaps their best defensive player.
Nonetheless, he was lauded by Cascarino, who spoke about the player’s importance to Arsenal and the young guns all penning their futures to the club.
“You know what’s lovely in football sometimes, you become a better player when you don’t play,” said Cascarino. “Don’t get me wrong, Saliba has been terrific.
“But when they lost games in the manner in which they did, the importance of not having him in the team, he became even better. He was a very big miss for them.
“Arsenal were very keen on tying down the younger element of their squad. They have done Martinelli, Saka, and if they get Saliba over the line, then there are three young and very bright prospects that they can tie down to the club for a good number of years.
“So, this is a great thing for the club.”
Saliba proving to be one of the best
He is Arsenal’s best defender and he is also growing into one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
If Saliba’s form continues into next season, or even if he hits higher heights, then he could argue that he is one of the best in the Premier League full stop.
But all of that will happen if he takes Arsenal to the Premier League title because that’s the ultimate goal.
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