William Saliba has often been hailed as the jewel in Arsenal’s defence, but according to Jamie Carragher, there’s a growing narrative surrounding the Frenchman that should serve as a major wake-up call.
Mikel Arteta’s side travelled to Anfield for the first time after losing the Premier League title, with Arsenal giving Liverpool the guard of honour before going 2-0 down within minutes.
The Gunners fought back after the break to level the game, with both teams creating chances late on before the game ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
After the game, Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back when assessing Saliba’s performance, especially in light of Gabriel Magalhaes’ absence from the Arsenal side.
Jamie Carragher identifies key weakness in William Saliba’s game
While Carragher acknowledged Saliba’s immense potential, he pointed out that the Arsenal defender currently lacks a key trait that separates good centre-backs from great ones.
In a brutally honest comparison to legends like Tony Adams and Virgil van Dijk, Carragher made it clear what Saliba must add to his game before he risks being labelled a player who can’t lead his defence.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “I think Saliba is the better player, but I think Gabriel is the better leader and he needs to bring that to his game if he wants to get to sort of the levels of what we saw about Virgil van Dijk. So, at the moment, he needs Gabriel.
“I think since Gabriel has come out of the team, that’s not the same Saliba I’ve watched. The amount of mistakes he’s made in the last couple of months, it feels like he makes a big mistake every game.
“When you’re a centre-back, I’d be hoping now that okay, this guy next to me is the leader. When he moves away, you’ve got to then become the leader of that back four and organise people and not just play your own game.
“For me, the great centre-backs, it’s not about how good you are and what everything you can do. Oh, he’s great in the air. He’s got great pace. He’s on the ball. You want all that, but you need to affect other people.
“Think of the great centre-backs. Think of Tony Adams. Think of Van Dijk. They’re not just great players. They make everybody else around them look like great players. And that’s the thing that I think is still lacking with Saliba.
“Without Gabriel, he doesn’t look the same player. And that’s not something you want to be labelled as. I mean, I’d be embarrassed if I was playing centre-back for Liverpool and people saying he’s not the same player without him next to him.”
Arsenal set to extend William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes’ contracts
There’s no doubting Saliba’s quality, and while Carragher suggests areas for improvement, the club sees him as a vital part of their plans.
Saliba has attracted interest from Real Madrid, but Arsenal are determined to keep him, alongside his centre-back partner, Gabriel.
In fact, TBR Football previously reported that new sporting director Berta wants to extend contracts of three Arsenal players, including Saliba, Gabriel and Saka.
| Stat | Saliba & Gabriel (Together) |
| Matches Played | 115 |
| Wins | 75 |
| Draws | 18 |
| Losses | 22 |
| Win Percentage | 65.2% |
| Points Per Game (PPG) | 2.11 |
Recent reports also indicate that Arsenal have already initiated talks with Saliba over a new deal.
Having come close to the league title in each of the past three seasons, there’s a growing belief within the club that they are on the cusp of securing it.
With the solid partnership between Saliba and Gabriel at the back, and the right signings in midfield and attack, Arsenal could be serious contenders next season.
