Date: 23rd August 2022 at 7:30am
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William Saliba could not hide his joy after grabbing his first goal for Arsenal in the Gunners’ comfortable win over Bournemouth at the weekend. 

THE LOWDOWN: GROWING REPUTATION

William Saliba – a £27m signing from French side Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019, was sent out on loan to aid his development but has returned to claim a starting shirt in Mikel Arteta’s team this season.

The manager might not have planned to use him this early this season but the fitness issues of Takehiro Tomiyasu has fastened his introduction and he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

Saliba has been very impressive in his first three senior appearances for Arsenal against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and more recently Bournemouth.

He was awarded the man-of-the-match in the opening game of the season against Palace. Despite scoring an own-goal against Leicester he was still praised for his efforts in the 4-2 victory and even had fans cheer him on despite putting the ball in his own net.

On Saturday evening at the Vitality Stadium he opened his account for Arsenal with a goal that strikers would be proud of.

His attempt after being teed up by Granit Xhaka flew into the top corner with his weaker foot; Saliba’s goal left many in attendance stunned – especially teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko who didn’t bother joining in the celebrations out of utmost disbelief.

THE LATEST: FIRST GOAL DELIGHT

After scoring his first goal in the colours of the Gunners, took to social media after the game to express his delight and made sure to point out that the victory and a clean sheet were equally as important.

“Happy of my first goal with @arsenal,” he wrote on Instagram. “Another win and clean sheet. Thanks for the amazing support again! #COYG.”

Saliba could be thanking the Gunners fans for their ‘amazing support’ as per the song – a remake of the tune ‘Tequila’ with his name switched in instead. For a good part of the game, Arsenal fans chanted his name at the away end of the Vitality stadium and it was brilliant to watch.

After the game, Arteta revealed the rest of the squad continued signing it in the dressing room after the game: “The boys were singing it in the dressing room,” the Arsenal manager said before delivering his own verdict. “It’s a good song to be fair.”

THE VERDICT: MORE TO COME 

Arsenal have struck gold with Saliba and there are no limits to what he can achieve in this team. The Gunners are firmly at the top of the league and the young Frenchman has been a part of it. Although the season is still long but the fans, his teammates and the manager can be happy with his contributions thus far.

A perfect goal will do his confidence much good and starting another game despite all players now being fit is slowly a sign that Saliba is becoming a designated first-team starter.

 

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