Why Arsenal fans should be enthusiastic about the defender “in the Raphael Varane mold” and loved by former Gunners stars

So good is the miraculous William Saliba, who caused a big fight between Arsenal’s father club and his former Saint-Etienne team.

The French team wanted him to help them in their bid to win the Coupe de France on July 24, but an agreement could not be found, causing statements from both clubs on the matter.

Saint-Etienne said the Premier League team was “imposing absolutely unacceptable sporting and financial conditions.”

In the meantime, the Gunners have claimed, in addition to not agreeing with training and medical advice, that the French group was looking for more money.

It means he will return to Arsenal, unable to help his first senior team against Paris Saint-Germain and miss the opportunity to win some silverware, even if he was thin.

But it certainly shows how important the player is to Mikel Arteta, without even kicking a ball.

So what is it about? talkSPORT.com takes a look.

He signed up for the Gunners last summer for £ 27 million, the central defender was immediately loaned to Saint Etienne for the season to continue his development.

A hamstring injury kept him out until early October, but Saliba was soon experiencing an exceptional season in France.

His return to the side caused a direct recovery of fortunes for Saint Etienne. In their six games since Saliba’s return, the French side have conceded only four goals, keeping three goals clean in the process.

Another injury struck immediately, with a fractured metatarsal that kept him out until late January.

The form thereafter has been difficult to find in Ligue 1 with their struggles exacerbated in his absence.

However, Saliba still had a positive impact on his return, despite poor results and Arsenal fans will be happy.

Game style

Saliba can play anywhere on three and also on the right back, even if his best position is the central defender.

His confidence in possession allows him to overcome the gaps in the opposition’s midfield and choose intelligent and incisive passages.

But he is also just as effective as a street cleaner, reading what is happening in front of him and clearing up the mistakes of others.

Like Fikayo Tomori at Chelsea, Saliba is understandably still raw and is sometimes taken over.

Arsenal hopes that these imperfections will be resolved before arriving in the Emirates next summer, considering that it is only 18 years old.

Where would it fit in Arsenal?

Saliba will likely replace David Luiz in the Gunners’ starting XI, although the Brazilian has a new deal.

The couple shares similar attributes on the ball and Saliba would become a suitable partner for the new boy Pablo Mari once he is completely fit.

Arsenal have conceded 41 alarming goals in their 31 league games this season – just one less than Newcastle United – and Saliba’s arrival cannot really come soon enough.

What is said about Saliba?

In an interview with Eurosport, his former coach Fabio Frasconi he had had much to say about the talented young man.

“He has not always had this maturity,” admitted Frasconi. “He was an adorable child, but at school he was not conscientious, he went there laughing with his friends. And I helped him during some disciplinary clashes.

“His departure for Montfermeil, where he followed me to the Under 15, put him on a straight and tight and forced him to grow. Although it wasn’t necessarily better than everyone else, I never saw a kid who wanted to become a professional footballer any more. He knew who all the scouts in the region were, even those who didn’t wear the colors of the club they represented.

“Sounds like a senator. I only saw him under pressure once: in his first game for the French Under 16. He was not good at all, but he played 3 days later, the coach believed in him. It seemed to me the moment when everything started. He understood then that every meeting was not necessarily life or death.

“What I like is that although he signed for Arsenal this summer, even if he earns a lot of money, even if he is regularly called to play for France, he has never changed and this is a sign of enormous maturity. Look at him, after the derby: he is the one driving the atmosphere, leading the cry for victory. It sounds like he’s trying to build a long-term career with St Étienne despite joining the Gunners at the end of the year. He has an incredible mentality. “

Current chief Saint-Etienne e former Leicester manager Claude Puel he is definitely convinced of Saliba’s talents.

“It’s ready,” he told The Athletic. “He is a fantastic player. He is a young player but with a lot of maturity in his game.

“Also, in his life. He is a player with a good feeling and spirit.

“It will be difficult for us without him, but I think it is a fantastic opportunity for Arsenal.

“I think they need a good central defender and have been doing it for some time, and I think William is the right player

“I think he can always play in the Arsenal first team.”

French journalist Julien Laurens believes that the confrontations between the player and Real Madrid superstar Raphael Varane are not far from the mark.

“I think yes, it’s in the Varane mold,” Laurens told ESPN FC.

“In reality they have many similarities, not only the young people and the way they entered the scene in France with their respective club: obviously Lens for Varane about 10 years ago and Saint-Etienne with Saliba now.

“But yes, I think there is certainly a path that Saliba will want to follow.

“I think it was the right thing for him and Arsenal to do, leaving him in France for another year on loan in Saint-Etienne and then returning this summer to England and Arsenal, having gained a lot of maturity from his season in Ligue 1, especially with the injury he has had.

“He had to come back and work hard to get back to his level, so I think this will help him a lot and also because this year has been a transition year for Arsenal.

“Not that he knew that last summer, but it has become a year of transition with Arteta.

“So I think it will be very good for Arsenal which will come in the summer, even if it is still very young.

“I think it will be a very good signature.”

One of the many aces of the former Arsenal hit by Saliba, Bacary sagna believes he has some excellent attributes.

“He is very confident in defense, he is not afraid of defending one on one and more often than not he wins duels, which is the best quality as a defender,” Sagna told Goal.

“You need some security, you need presence and he has it.

“For him, staying in the French League after signing for Arsenal was the best decision he could make because he knew he would change to a bigger club, but he knew he would have to improve his performance.

“It was like a test, he had to step up his game this season and the last game I saw of him was fantastic. I analyzed him as an Arsenal fan and he did very well. “

In the meantime, another former Gunner, Mathieu Debuchy, believes that Saliba is already of the required standard.

“He is a great player. I am so happy that he will play next season for a great club like Arsenal, “said his Saint-Etienne teammate to the official Ligue 1 podcast.

“It improves every game and I think he’s a great player. He is strong, with good technique. He is also fast. I think he has a lot of quality to play at Arsenal. “