William Saliba: Rolls Royce

[Riou]

Still think Kolo Toure is vastly underrated as a player, tbh.

Parlour story about him murdering everyone in training is very funny, but kinda makes everyone associate him with being a meme, his last few years at Liverpool when he was past it too don't help.

But from 2003-2008 he was a TOP defender imo, his games in our 06 Champions League run were ridiculous considering the defence he was playing with.

Saliba is brilliant and has the clear potential, but still think he has a bit to go to clear prime Kolo.

 

[Riou]

Not sure about this. Saliba IS a better CB than Kolo.

Nobody in our history is probably going to achieve what Kolo did, doesn’t mean we can’t compare.

Sanchez, RvP, Özil, Santi, Rosicky, Cesc, Hleb etc were all better than Parlour, Petit, Ljunberg etc.

I don’t buy judging by success angle, player v player is better.

Always thought you rated Petit highly, isn't the 1998 team one of your fav ever sides?

Don't think we have many better midfielders in our history than prime Manu, perfect partner for Vieira too.

 

[Sapient Hawk]

Always thought you rated Petit highly, isn't the 1998 team one of your fav ever sides?

Don't think we have many better midfielders in our history than prime Manu, perfect partner for Vieira too.

I definitely preferred the 1998 double winning side because it was a perfect blend between Graham's obstinate aggression & Wenger's continental flare.

The 1998 double is my favorite of our 3 PL titles because, back in December of 1997, we were in 6th place, 12 points off the pace & dead in the water. No one gave us a chance in hell. Made the title win all the sweeter

 

[GDeep™]

Always thought you rated Petit highly, isn't the 1998 team one of your fav ever sides?

Don't think we have many better midfielders in our history than prime Manu, perfect partner for Vieira too.

Invincible is my favourite side, it’s better than the ‘98 side all over the park, easily, GK aside.

That side was a machine, prime Sol, Lauren, Cole, Silva, Vieira, Pires, Henry etc.

How good was Petit? Done nothing after Arsenal. Would argue he was one of many who over performed due to Wenger.

 

[Riou]

See Deschamps started some rando called Todibo over Saliba tonight, interesting

 

[AberGooner]

See Deschamps started some rando called Todibo over Saliba tonight, interesting

Funnily enough Saliba partnered him in defence at Nice.

 

[Riou]

Funnily enough Saliba partnered him in defence at Nice.

Well Henry played with Peguy Luyindula at Red Bulls, but you wouldn't start him over Thierry for France ffs!

Well Deschamps would probably try to do it, the freak

 

[Riou]

Invincible is my favourite side, it’s better than the ‘98 side all over the park, easily, GK aside.

That side was a machine, prime Sol, Lauren, Cole, Silva, Vieira, Pires, Henry etc.

How good was Petit? Done nothing after Arsenal. Would argue he was one of many who over performed due to Wenger.

Petit was already a multi capped French international who was a key player in a very exciting Monaco side, wasn't he?

After us he still played for a top four level Chelsea team, not like he was playing for a relegation team...plus he was kinda past it after we sold him, it's like saying Gilberto did nothing after leaving us.

And he helped France win a back to back World Cup and Euros Double, not like he was only good here.

 

[GDeep™]

Petit was already a multi capped French international who was a key player in a very exciting Monaco side, wasn't he?

After us he still played for a top four level Chelsea team, not like he was playing for a relegation team...plus he was kinda past it after we sold him, it's like saying Gilberto did nothing after leaving us.

And he helped France win a back to back World Cup and Euros Double, not like he was only good here.

The golden period of his career all happened during his Arsenal career.

Anyway, the Invincible team was much better than the ‘98 team, I would argue maybe by a few levels. Don’t think there has been a team in English football with that much elite peak level talent.

 

[Riou]

Anyway, the Invincible team was much better than the ‘98 team, I would argue maybe by a few levels. Don’t think there has been a team in English football with that much elite peak level talent.

Only team that is up there with it is 2002 Arsenal, imho.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Only team that is up there with it is 2002 Arsenal, imho.

Ur ratio is down from 2.008 to 2.007…it has begun

 

[TheEliteMaster100_]

Deschamps is close friends with Desailly too, former teammate at Marseille and French National team in which they won every trophy possible so it's going to be even hard for Saliba to make for France unless a) they are injuries to Konate/Upamecano or b) Saliba wins either UCL/Prem and stamps his authority.

Didier Deschamps believes William Saliba feels pressure of competition with France - Get French Football News

William Saliba (22) is a guaranteed starter at Arsenal. That is not the case with France, and Didier Deschamps believes that the psychological pressure

www.getfootballnewsfrance.com

"William Saliba (22) is a guaranteed starter at Arsenal. That is not the case with France, and Didier Deschamps believes that the psychological pressure resulting the increased competition is impacting the young centre-back.

Since his return from a loan spell at Olympique de Marseille in the summer of 2022, Saliba’s place in the starting XI has not come under pressure at Arsenal. He has started all 12 of the Gunners’ Premier League fixtures and all four of their UEFA Champions League encounters so far this season.

The arrivals of Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber, who suffered an injury in his first Premier League appearance and has not featured since have not challenged Saliba’s supremacy. Whilst the former Saint-Étienne centre-back exudes serenity at club level, the same cannot be said at international level.

‘Saliba isn’t in the same psychological situation with his club’ – Deschamps​

Saliba was selected in Deschamps’ France squad to face Gibraltar and Greece and the manager spoke about the centre-back’s lack of game time with Les Bleus. “He hasn’t had a lot of game time with us. He is performing well for his club,” began Deschamps in a press conference, transcribed by RMC Sport.

He added, “At international level, he hasn’t always found himself in the best conditions in matches where I’ve rotated a lot. He isn’t in the same psychological situation with his club, where he doesn’t ask himself if he’ll play at the weekend. When he has game time with us, he tells himself he needs to play well because there are others behind him. He is not in a psychological situation that is the same as at his club. He has everything he needs to take the next step.”

Despite Raphaël Varane’s retirement from international football, Saliba is still in competition with Axel Disasi, Jean-Clair Todibo, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, Benjamin Pavard, Jules Koundé, Benoît Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and even Castello Lukeba, who is beginning to make his breakthrough. Guaranteeing yourself a starting spot in front of such players is no easy task. "

Saliba last played in France 2-1 loss to Germany back in September

 

[TromsoGooner]

Always thought you rated Petit highly, isn't the 1998 team one of your fav ever sides?

Don't think we have many better midfielders in our history than prime Manu, perfect partner for Vieira too.

Think Petit is a bit under rated by many Arsenal-fans. Was superb for us.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

I love big Willy. But it's sentences like the highlighted one that make me adamant the only thing you should be posting for the immediate future are posts like the one below.

View attachment 19860

@Riou did it first, but still funny

 

[Sapient Hawk]

@Riou did it first, but still funny

Honestly, I was going to cut you a break because you said you were 6 at the time.

Then, I read that line again

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Invincible is my favourite side, it’s better than the ‘98 side all over the park, easily, GK aside.

That side was a machine, prime Sol, Lauren, Cole, Silva, Vieira, Pires, Henry etc.

How good was Petit? Done nothing after Arsenal. Would argue he was one of many who over performed due to Wenger.

He was often our best midfielder while playing with Vieira where they absolutely dominated every other PL midfield. He won the World Cup where he scored and assisted in the final and the European Championships. Won a league and cup for Monaco and went to a European final with them.

Are you too young to remember him?

 

[GDeep™]

He was often our best midfielder while playing with Vieira where they absolutely dominated every other PL midfield. He won the World Cup where he scored and assisted in the final and the European Championships. Won a league and cup for Monaco and went to a European final with them.

Are you too young to remember him?

I did later say his golden period was while at Arsenal, even the international success. Flopped at Barcelona after he left here.

He done nothing after Arsenal.

 

[Macho]

Petit was often cited as one of the various examples of Wenger selling at the right time and doing nothing of note after Arsenal.

Back then though due to the coverage once you left the prem it was out of sight out of mind. Hence why outside of the hardcore, many draw a blank when it comes to Beckham's Madrid stint.

 

[Riou]

Bergkamp "Manu you may have just scored, be one of the best central midfielders in the world, on your way to The Double with Arsenal and then World Cup with France... but I have to remind you did NOTHING after you left Arsenal, so always remember you are crap mate!"

 

[Tnegs]

Petit was often cited as one of the various examples of Wenger selling at the right time and doing nothing of note after Arsenal.

Back then though due to the coverage once you left the prem it was out of sight out of mind. Hence why outside of the hardcore, many draw a blank when it comes to Beckham's Madrid stint.

On Beckham that’s because he was doing nothing at Madrid and won nothing till the season he left and even then he was frozen out for most of it. People certainly knew what Steve Mcmanaman was doing at Madrid because he was winning a bunch titles.