The Obstacle Preventing Arsenal's William Saliba from Achieving 'Best Defender in the World' status

Arsenal's center-back has firmly established himself as one of the Premier League's top performers in recent years, impressing in the club's title push during the 2022-23 season after gaining valuable experience on loan at various clubs.

Saliba’s influence at the Emirates Stadium was even more significant last term, when he became the first outfield player in the club’s history to play every minute of a Premier League campaign.

The 23-year-old is one half of a formidable centre-back partnership with Brazilian Gabriel that helped Arsenal finish just two points behind champions Manchester City last season and boast the best defensive record in England.

Given Saliba’s form for Arsenal, it is no surprise that he has become a regular for France, racking up 23 international caps and featuring heavily for Les Bleus during Euro 2024.

Saliba is confident he is ‘on his way’ to becoming the ‘best defender in the world’ but says in order to take the next step he must first become a regular trophy winner, having failed to lift any major silverware for club or country.

‘I have been on the right track for both seasons, mainly last season,’ Saliba told Fox Sports Mexico. ‘I’m perhaps on my way to becoming the best defender in the world.

‘I think I’m one of the best at the moment, but to say that I have to win some titles. I think that’s what I’m missing right now.

‘If you win titles, you’re good and if you don’t, you can’t say you’re the best. That’s what I believe. I’m one of the best in the world.’

Arsenal have already kept three clean sheets in the Premier League this season, their one conceded goal coming against Brighton when they were down to ten men before the international break.

The Gunners sit second, two points behind Manchester City, ahead of their trip to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Looking ahead to the much-anticipated clash, Saliba added: ‘Of course, we want to compete against Manchester City as we have done [in] the last two seasons but we know we have to do more.

‘As I said, we have to compete against City but we also have to do it against the other teams because it’s not just against City. 

‘If you win against them but not against others it doesn’t mean anything. So, of course we want to win this weekend and we will give everything to win but it’s not the end on Sunday.’

Manchester City are the only team in England’s top four leagues not to drop any points so far this season as they seek a record-extending fifth successive Premier League trophy.

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