Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have a player who’s doing something ‘really rare’ in the Premier League

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on William Saliba and his performances in the Premier League since the start of last season.

The Frenchman is a fantastic player. He is up there with the best defenders of his age in the world, and with him in the side, Arsenal will fancy themselves against any team in Europe. Arteta says he is really happy with Saliba’s performances.

Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal defender William Saliba

Arsenal signed William Saliba from Saint-Etienne back in the summer of 2019, when Unai Emery was still at the club.

The French defender, who was a teenager at the time, was loaned back to ASSE for that season, but everyone expected him to be integrated into the Arsenal side on his return.

However, Mikel Arteta was just not convinced that Saliba was ready for the Premier League. So, the Arsenal boss sent him out on loan two more times, first to Nice and then to Marseille.

Saliba has been outstanding since coming back, and he has arguably been the best centre-back in the Premier League since the start of last season.

On TNT Sports last night, Rio Ferdinand asked Arteta how impressed he has been with Saliba.

Arteta said: “Yeah, it’s a really rare thing to see especially in this league.

“I always say the most difficult position in the league is to play as a centre-back, because of the opposition you are facing every week in, week out, and the challenges you face throughout the game.

“He showed incredible composure and personality to be so determined and commanding in those positions and we’re really happy with him.”

Arsenal star Saliba is a generational talent

Mikel Arteta is right, what William Saliba is doing at this age at Arsenal in the Premier League is very, very rare to see.

The Frenchman only made his league debut in the opening game of last season, but it almost looked like he had been playing in England for years.

Saliba has absolutely everything in his locker. He’s calm, fast, good on the ball, excellent in the air, and his football intelligence for someone so young is just incredible.

Arsenal fans should be really excited about Saliba. The fact that he is still only 22 means he will only get better in the coming years.