Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal have a top 22-year-old who ‘makes it look easy’

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Rio Ferdinand has praised Arsenal defender William Saliba for how he makes the art of defending “look easy”.

Ferdinand, speaking on Vibe with FIVE, opted for the Gunners star when asked who he’d pick out of Saliba and Liverpool‘s Ibrahima Konate.

Saliba has been going from strength to strength at Arsenal since making his debut last season, three years after going onto the Gunners’ books.

At just 22 years of age, the Frenchman is one of the Gunners’ most important players and has clocked up 71 competitive appearances in red and white.

Saliba has also formed a formidable centre-back partnership alongside Gabriel Magalhaes and helped Arsenal concede the fewest goals in the Premier League so far this season.

When asked who he’d pick out of Saliba and Konate, Ferdinand said: “I’ll probably go Saliba, you know. Just because of the smoothness, he makes it look easy.

“I think you don’t really see Saliba sweating because of the positions he takes up.

“I think he’s got intelligence about the way he plays and he doesn’t put himself in positions where he has to do last-ditch tackles.

“You know what’s impressive about him? He’s physically massive. Saliba’s huge!”

William Saliba key as Arsenal battle for Premier League title and Champions League

Saliba is an elite player in fine form and helping Arsenal push for the Premier League title in one of the closest races in recent years.

The £27million man needed a while to get up to speed, spending the first three years on the books at Arsenal out on loan.

However, when Saliba made his debut in the summer of 2022, it was clear that the Gunners had a superstar on their hands.

Indeed, his injury in the second half of last season proved extremely damaging for Arsenal’s hopes of winning the title.

Now, a stronger Gunners outfit has hit form at the right time and will fancy their chances of going all the way in the Premier League.