Darren Bent says £27m player is actually more important for Arsenal than Declan Rice

Add as preferred source on Google

Darren Bent has claimed that Arsenal star William Saliba is actually more important for the Gunners than Declan Rice.

Mikel Arteta has built a tremendous squad, hasn’t he? Arsenal are so strong in every area of the pitch, and Rice and Saliba are two of their best players. Bent, however, is convinced that the France international is the main man.

Darren Bent says William Saliba is more important for Arsenal than Declan Rice

Arsenal signed Declan Rice for a club-record fee in last summer’s transfer window, and he has been an unbelievable signing for them.

The Englishman has played every single game for the Gunners in the Premier League and Champions League so far. He has barely had a bad game all season, and Arsenal fans absolutely love him.

Darren Bent was asked by Andy Goldstein on talkSPORT to name Arsenal’s most important player right now. The pundit replied by saying: “Him (Rice) or Saliba!”

Goldstein then pressed Bent to pick one. “Which one? If one has to go missing for the rest of the season, (who would you pick?), he asked.

Bent thought for a few seconds before replying: “Do you know what? Dec would have to go. Not Saliba, no way!”

Arsenal collapsed after William Saliba’s injury last season

Arsenal signed William Saliba from Saint Etienne in a £27 million deal back in 2019 (Goal), but it was only at the start of last season that he was given an opportunity.

The Frenchman hit the ground running in an Arsenal shirt and was unbelievable last term. He was one of the biggest reasons why the Gunners were so good, but once he suffered his season-ending injury, Mikel Arteta’s side crumbled.

Arsenal, who spent two-thirds of the campaign on top of the Premier League table, ended up finishing second after a poor end to the campaign. That showed just how important Saliba is to this Arsenal side.

If the Frenchman can stay fit until the end of this season, the Gunners have every chance of going all the way in the title race.