Thierry Henry crowns William Saliba as Premier League’s finest defender
Arsenal veteran Thierry Henry has openly said that William Saliba is the Premier League’s “best defender” in a shocking remark. This thunderous comment was delivered by the French football star, remembered for his phenomenal time at Arsenal, during an interview on Amazon Prime Sport.
Saliba, 22, had a difficult time establishing himself in the Arsenal team after joining from Saint Etienne in 2019. After loan stints at Nice and Marseille, the youthful defender finally took advantage of the opportunity offered by manager Mikel Arteta last season.
Saliba has since been a crucial member of Arsenal’s defense, creating a powerful partnership with Brazilian stalwart Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Arsenal legend said: “Right now I think he [Saliba] is [the best], by a mile.
“The way he can defend a 1 v 1, the way he allows Arsenal to stay higher [up the pitch] and defend the 45-50 yards behind him is second to none. His speed, the way he recovers, and when he recovers the ball he doesn’t just kick it into the stands – he tries to get it back [to his teammates] which is important.
“I was working in France when he was on loan to Marseille [in 2021/22] and I was surprised that Arsenal didn’t keep him because I thought he was better than what we had. But he went on loan and he came back and he showed everybody that that was a mistake and now he’s now the best defender in the league.”
Henry’s unreserved approval Saliba’s abilities adds to a growing chorus of acclaim from former Arsenal players. Ray Parlour, another Gunners star, believes Saliba has the ability to outperform even the most top defenders in the world.
As Arsenal prepares to face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at Villa Park, all eyes will be on Saliba to continue proving Henry’s claim on the field.
The claim that he is the “best by a mile” raises the stakes and interest surrounding the rising defensive star’s future exploits in the Premier League.
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- Gary Neville believes Arsenal can win the Premier League
