William Saliba is a totem of calmness in Arsenal’s defence, but Urien Wood, Ricardo Calafiore could ease reliance on Arsenal | Football News

William Saliba was solely the width of the middle circle away from Jacob Ramsey when he fired house late at Villa Park. However one way or the other he made up for it, dragging him in entrance of an expectant Holtend and blocking his shot brilliantly.

Arsenal’s fist-pumping celebrations that adopted mirrored the “love for protection” that Mikel Arteta highlighted in his talks with Arsenal. sky sports activities March. This response is inspired, he explains, “so defensive conduct is taken as severely as aggressive conduct.”

Arsenal will definitely want this stage of defensive dedication on Saturday. Not solely within the closing levels, after targets from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey, however earlier within the half when their penalty space was below siege, the stadium was buzzing with anticipation.

Arsenal, in fact, have David Raya to thank for his very good save on Ollie Watkins in that interval. Trossard scored the opener along with his first contact of the ball after approaching as an alternative, which was additionally essential. But it surely was Saliba who held all of it collectively, as he so typically does.

An uncharacteristic mistake got here towards Wolves final weekend when his errant cross nearly led to a purpose for Matheus Cunha. Nonetheless, after a quick interval of pre-season coaching, his sharpness returned for an additional week and that is the place the France worldwide is at his greatest.

Going through an opponent in an typically frenzied sport, solely Saliba, who beat Arsenal twice within the Premier League final 12 months, was a totem of scientific composure, touching the ball greater than another participant on the pitch and finishing all however one in every of his 88 passes.

Whereas others made errors within the frenetic environment, resembling dashing passes, controlling errors below stress or, within the case of his centre-back associate Gabriel, being disadvantaged of Watkin deep in Arsenal territory A golden alternative that ought to have been buried, however Saliba was unaffected.

A stunning last-ditch effort to cease Ramsey was one in every of many notable defensive interventions. Saliba made extra tackles and clearances than any teammate in the complete sport. Neither facet received extra duels.

His pace and physicality will likely be wanted towards Watkins. “In the event that they [Villa] “Put the ball in our final line of defence, you are man-to-man, you’d higher be bodily as a result of it has to go our manner,” Arteta stated with a smile afterwards. There may be knowledge, but additionally brute energy.

At instances, he stepped in with out even making a problem, pushing Watkins away from an extended ball earlier than ducking below the ball to cross to Raya earlier than nonchalantly stepping on Morgan Rogers’ cutback cross. It is prefer it’s coming from a teammate.

Regardless of Brendan Rodgers and Leon Bailey doing nicely in Villa’s assault and Amadou Onana driving house from midfield, Saliba was not overwhelmed as soon as. Though this isn’t unusual.

The truth is, Saliba has misplaced simply 11 of 67 video games since making his Premier League debut for Arsenal two years in the past.

That works out to simply 0.16 dribbles per 90 minutes. No Premier League defender has been in a position to beat that because the begin of the 2022/23 season, not even Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.

Given his capacity, it is no shock that Arsenal are so reliant on him. Their stellar defensive report final season was definitely the results of a collective effort. However Saliba’s contribution as their solely participant to play each minute of the sport was large.

Their reliance on him proved pricey within the earlier marketing campaign, with a again damage inflicting him to overlook Arsenal’s last 11 Premier League video games of the season and their title problem foundering.

Their report with and with out him underscores his significance. When he was unable to play, Arsenal’s profitable proportion dropped from 76.1% to 45.5%. They concede twice as many targets and permit their opponents round 30% extra touches within the penalty space.

Whereas Saliba shone at Villa Park on Saturday, there was additionally encouragement from two new faces in Arsenal’s defence, whose reliance on him could now be lessened.

Urien Timber, who has excelled at left-back after being injured in his first season at Arsenal, is a pure centre-back and appears to be a high quality substitute. The identical goes for summer time signing Ricardo Calafiore, who got here off the bench to make his Premier League bow.

“I like what wooden does,” says sky sports activities’ Gary Neville is Gary Neville Podcast. “Leon Bailey is a troublesome consumer to take care of and I believed he did an important job. And Calafiore, when he comes on, he seems scrappy, powerful and able to struggle.”

Like Saliba and his centre-back associate Gabriel, Timber and Calafiore have the flexibility to bodily overwhelm opponents. Their versatility at full-back additionally offers Arsenal depth in centre-backs corresponding to title rivals Manchester Metropolis.

Neville added: “Guardiola has fully reworked his staff from a small staff into a large staff and Mikel Arteta has responded. Actual stress from set items however they deal with it nicely and they’re a robust staff now.

“Once you play towards a extremely high staff it’s essential to preserve a clear sheet, it’s essential to be sure to have somebody who can defend on the again door, it’s essential to make sure that at set items you will have six huge males now.”

Most significantly, although, he has Saliba, a participant who epitomizes bodily superiority and whose efficiency at Villa Park was a reminder that he has the composure and composure to match. Even with Timber and Calafio sharing the load, Saliba is anticipated to proceed main Arsenal’s defensive celebrations.