Arsenal have gone from strength to strength in recent years and one of their strongest areas is their defence.
The Gunners were known for having a pretty shaky defence in Mikel Arteta’s early days, but that has changed in recent years.
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have formed a superb partnership at centre-back that has helped Arsenal become title challengers.
Saliba’s trajectory to the top is especially interesting, as he spent three seasons out on loan after going on the books at Arsenal.
Martin Keown has now spoken about Saliba’s career trajectory and shared where he feels the Frenchman ranks among the Premier League’s best defenders in recent years.
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Martin Keown said Arsenal star William Saliba is ‘at the top of the tree’
Keown acknowledged that Saliba’s route to the top was unconventional and praised the defender for having had the mental toughness to stick it out.
The Highbury legend also played down Saliba’s recent loss of form as he described him as a “Rolls Royce”.
“Well firstly, you don’t normally go on loan for three years when you arrive at a top level club,” Keown told talkSPORT.
“He could’ve been forgiven for thinking maybe he wasn’t a part of the future at Arsenal. But instead, the future has been built around him, he’s that good.
“I do think the last two or three games he’s dropped a little bit in an Arsenal shirt. That’s just a confidence thing.
“Gabriel is doing equally as well around him, so it’s about partnerships. But he’s a Rolls Royce in the way he plays.”
Saliba is also the fastest player in Arsenal’s history to reach 50 Premier League wins, and played every minute of the Gunners’ last top-flight campaign.
Keown said the £27million man is “at the top of the tree” when it comes to the best Premier League centre-backs in recent times.
“Listen, this guy plays so many games,” Keown continued. “He’s got to 50 Premier League wins quicker than any Arsenal player, that just says it all.
“There’s been some top defenders and some really good eras in recent times and there he is at the top of the tree.”
The latest around William Saliba’s Arsenal future
Saliba, who has just turned 24, has emerged as one of the Premier League top defenders and signed a new long-term deal in 2023 until 2027.
His performances have not gone unnoticed and not just at the Emirates Stadium, with European champions Real Madrid keeping close tabs on his progress.
However, Arsenal are now ready to reward Saliba with a significant pay increase, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey confirmed earlier this month.
This would put him in the same category as the likes of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, the club’s highest paid player.
TBR Football sources also understand that Arsenal are confident that Saliba can be convinced to sign a fresh deal.
