Arsenal-bound prodigy with ‘pace, power and technique’ named in world’s top youngsters list

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Arsenal will be seeing a player deemed one of the world’s top 50 youngsters arrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer as William Saliba has made Goal’s NxGn 2020 list of top players born on or after 1 January 2001.

The Gunners beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of the teenage centre-back last summer in a £27million deal from Saint-Etienne (BBC Sport), but had to loan him back to the Ligue 1 club for the entirety of the 2019-20 season as part of the deal.

Saliba missed a large part of the campaign through injury but impressed on his return against Monaco at the end of January and duly returned to the starting XI prior to the football suspension.

Indeed, the 19-year-old helped his side reach the French Cup final for the first time in 38 years in early March, and as such, excitement is palpable amongst many Arsenal fans regarding his arrival at the Emirates Stadium once his loan stint is up.

Saliba has been ranked 12th in Goal’s NxGn 2020 list, the outlet saying: “Arsenal may have agreed to loan William Saliba back to Saint-Etienne for the current campaign, but Claude Puel was understandably furious that the club decided to sell their “best player” in the first place.

“Indeed, former Gunners defender Mathieu Debuchy is among those who thinks that the France Under-20 centre-half will prove a bargain buy at £27 million, given the teenager’s pace, power and technique.”

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Arsenal’s defence hasn’t exactly been watertight this season, and Mikel Arteta is likely to bolster his ranks when the transfer window reopens, but with a player of Saliba’s calibre arriving in the summer, things could be on the up right away.

Despite his young age, Saliba has shown he has what it takes at the top level in a difficult league, and with so much untapped potential and progress yet to come – not to mention being ranked one of the best youngsters in world football – it’s no wonder Gunners fans are getting excited.