Mikel Arteta told he has potential 'world's best' player in his Arsenal ranks
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been told that his Gunners crop boasts one of the best young defenders in the world in William Saliba.
The Frenchman has shone for the north Londoners ever since he finally got his chance in the Arsenal team on the opening night of last season. Saliba has started this season in impressive fashion, looking the most assured member of the Gunners backline despite being just 22 years of age.
The Emirates faithful is often stunned into audible gasps every time Saliba is played into trouble, only to expertly manoeuvre himself out of it without breaking a sweat. The former Nice and Marseille loanee has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
In turn, the centre-back has been the subject of huge praise from an Arsenal icon, Ray Parlour. Speaking to NetBet Sports Betting, the ex-England international compared Saliba to fellow Gunners legend Tony Adams.
"William Saliba is currently the best young defender in the world and can go on to be the best defender in the world," Parlour explained. "He has everything to get better and better.
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"I remember Tony Adams when he was young – he might make quite a few mistakes, but he always seemed to rectify them. Saliba’s got his opportunity now and he's not let anybody down – Arsenal are very lucky to have him and he could become a club legend."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Parlour's assessment of Saliba accurate? Comment below
William Saliba has been tipped as the best young defender in the world by Ray Parlour (Getty Images)Saliba continues to go from strength to strength and even bagged his first goal of the campaign last time out. A threat from set-pieces, the Frenchman rose highest to nod home from Leandro Trossard's corner.
After the game, Arteta called on his defender to show more of that penalty box nous on a regular basis. "Willy [Saliba] is a real presence but he hasn’t shown yet that skill consistently and we are really working with him because he can be much more dominant, and the goal today is a real example of that."
Saliba has already faced some of the most lethal marksmen the Premier League has to offer. He kept Erling Haaland incredibly quiet during the 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City earlier this season.
Whether he meets the standard that Parlour and so many others expect of him remains to be seen, but it is unlikely to see Saliba as anything other than the world's best already - let alone in five years' time.
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