Ex-Arsenal striker Alan Smith has today provided his take on the potential impact of William Saliba on the backline of his former club.
Arsenal switch
Following months of rampant speculation, highly-regarded French stopper Saliba’s move to north London was finally made official last July.
Just hours after the announcement of Dani Ceballos’ arrival on loan from Real Madrid, Arsenal’s deal for Saliba was also confirmed across the club’s social media platforms.
The now-19-year-old was immediately sent back to Saint-Etienne on loan for the season, though, to build further first-team experience, ahead of returning to Arsenal this summer.
William will spend a season back on loan at @ASSEofficiel before joining our squad next summer.
🇫🇷 #SalibaSigns
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 25, 2019
‘A classy defender’
Arsenal’s fans, meanwhile, have since made their excitement clear regarding the potential impact of their young stopper on the club’s backline.
The Gunners’ defence has long stood as an area of weakness, with the capital giants having been crying out for a genuine talent of Saliba’s ilk to lead them into a new era.
Montpellier’s French forward Gaitan Laborde (L) vies with Saint-Etienne’s French defender William Saliba (R) during the French L1 football match between Saint-Etienne (ASSE) and Montpellier (MHSC) on May 10, 2019, at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France. (Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)
And, as outlined above, one individual who certainly appears to be of the opinion that, with the correct guidance, Saliba could develop into Arsenal’s next great stopper, is Alan Smith.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Smith, who lined out for the north Londoners from 1987 to 1995, was drawn on the personnel changes required at the Emirates this summer.
And, after first suggesting that adding another central defender to join Saliba should be a priority, Smith went as far as to claim that the Gunners’ French starlet possesses the potential to develop into a player ‘in the mould’ of Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk:
‘With a few quid to spend, another central defender must be on the cards. This area, in fact, is the most interesting of all. Will William Saliba, for instance, be given an early chance after finally coming over from Saint Etienne?’
‘Saliba, by all accounts, has tremendous potential as a classy defender in the Virgil van Dijk mould. I can just imagine Arteta on that training ground, working hard with the 19-year-old to instil good habits.’
Smith continued:
‘Depending on how that goes, we might see the Frenchman let loose early on. Next to whom is another matter though.’
‘Will Arteta continue with three at the back, a system that helped bring about such huge improvement?’
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