"There’s nothing I could say that is a weakness" - Ben White names 'incredible' Arsenal star who nobody can get past in training
Arsenal defender Ben White has lavished praise on his teammate William Saliba, calling the Frenchman “incredible.” The Gunners’ backline has been remarkably consistent over the past two seasons, and Saliba’s presence at the heart of defense has been a major factor.
Signed by Unai Emery in 2019 for a reported fee of £27 million, Saliba only made his debut in 2022 under Mikel Arteta. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength and has been a key reason behind Arsenal’s transformation from mere top-four contenders to title challengers.
Although the Premier League title has eluded them for the past two seasons, Saliba has arguably been one of the league’s best defenders during that time. His performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2023-24 season, and he is also regarded as a first-choice center-back for France.
Ben White, who has also been a consistent performer under Arteta, praised Saliba, noting that he appears to have no weaknesses in his game.
"Saliba is absolutely incredible. There’s nothing I could say that is a weakness or something that he probably needs to work on. I know that everyone needs to work on something but the way he’s playing he’s still so young," White said (via Metro).
White stated that the 23-year-old defender consistently shows remarkable composure during matches, while also adding that he is nearly unbeatable, even in training sessions.
"It’s so weird. In training, you obviously see glimpses of how good he is, but in a game it’s a completely different level and it shows. He can just cruise training, nobody goes past him. It’s literally like nobody even tries because they just know there’s no point,” he added.
The Gunners currently boast the second-best defense in the league and are one of only two unbeaten teams this season. They sit third behind Liverpool and Manchester City, but are just one point behind the Reds after seven games.
"Winning and being successful is a great way of keeping players" - Former Chelsea player on Arsenal’s William Saliba amid Real Madrid links
Given his consistent performances, Saliba has naturally attracted interest from top clubs. Real Madrid have reportedly been eyeing the Arsenal defender due to their lack of options at the back.
Former Chelsea player Tony Cascarino has even suggested that the Gunners must begin competing for and winning major trophies to fend off interest in their top players.
"There’s no bigger vulture than Real Madrid – if they’re after you then there’s a good chance of it happening. It’s not only convincing the player, but the agents get involved and the lure of Real Madrid. Look, winning and being successful is a great way of keeping players, it really is," he said (via Metro).
Despite the links, Arsenal are said to be unconcerned about Real Madrid’s interest in their star player and are confident he will remain a part of Mikel Arteta’s squad. Moreover, Saliba signed a new four-year contract just last season and is expected to play a major role in the club’s future development.