September 18th 2024.
William Saliba is feeling confident in his abilities, claiming that he is currently one of the best players in the world. However, the Arsenal centre-back believes that he is still missing one crucial element in order to solidify his position as the undisputed best defender in the world.
Over the past two years, Saliba has emerged as one of the standout players in the Premier League, thanks to his impressive performances for Arsenal. Despite spending time on loan at other clubs, the 23-year-old has proven himself as a key player for the Gunners, especially in their title challenge during the 2022-23 season.
Last season, Saliba's influence at the Emirates Stadium was even more significant as he became the first outfield player in the club's history to play every minute of a Premier League campaign. Alongside his defensive partner Gabriel, the duo formed a formidable centre-back partnership that helped Arsenal boast the best defensive record in England and finish just two points behind champions Manchester City.
Saliba's impressive form has also earned him a regular spot on the French national team, with 23 international caps and a significant role in Les Bleus' Euro 2024 campaign. However, despite his confidence in his abilities, Saliba knows that in order to reach the next level, he must first become a regular trophy winner.
In an interview with Fox Sports Mexico, Saliba said, "I have been on the right track for the past two seasons, especially last season. I believe I am on my way to becoming the best defender in the world. But in order to say that, I need to win some titles. That is the missing piece for me right now."
As Arsenal have already kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season, with their only goal conceded coming against Brighton while they were down to ten men, Saliba is hopeful for their upcoming match against Manchester City. However, he also acknowledges that in order to be the best, they must perform well against all teams, not just the top ones.
Saliba added, "Of course, we want to compete against Manchester City, just like we have done in the past two seasons. But we also know that we need to do more than that. We have to compete against all teams, not just City. Winning against them is important, but it means nothing if we can't perform against other teams. We will give our all to win this weekend, but it's not the end for us on Sunday."
Notably, Manchester City is the only team in England's top four leagues to have not dropped any points so far this season. As they aim for a record-breaking fifth consecutive Premier League title, Saliba and Arsenal will have to bring their A-game if they want to come out on top.
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