’Tremendous’… Frank Leboeuf says £27m Arsenal player is even better this season

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Frank Leboeuf believes Arsenal defender William Saliba is an ‘even better’ player this season. 

William Saliba starred for Arsenal on Saturday evening as they picked up a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

The 22-year-old scooped the Player of the Match award on Sky Sports after a commanding display at centre-back. 

Arsenal’s only goal of the game came from his defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes as the Brazilian netted with a well-taken header in the 4th minute. It wasn’t enough to earn the Gunners a statement win at Liverpool but Mikel Arteta’s men are proving to be a tough side to beat this season. 

Indeed, Arsenal only suffered two defeats at the halfway stage this term and that is largely down to their brilliant defensive record.

Saliba has once again been a standout performer at the back after impressing in his first full season last time out. And Frank Leboeuf believes the Frenchman is performing at an even higher level this season. 

Leboeuf says Saliba is ‘even better’ this season

Speaking on ESPN FC, Leboeuf lauded Saliba after his display at Anfield and even joked that people in France believe he could play further up the pitch, alongside Martin Odegaard. 

“The guy is tremendous,” the pundit said. “He’s even better than last season. I saw today that even when he had the ball he was so clever.

“On the French television, [they] say he should play alongside Martin Odegaard as a number 10 because he knows exactly what to do with the ball, defensively the guy is so strong while being helped by his teammates.

“We cannot forget the others are working very hard as well and Gabriel was very good.” 

Saliba has been a revelation for Arsenal over the past 18 months and the £27 million they paid to sign him back in 2019 now looks like a modest fee, to say the least. 

The France international has transformed Arteta’s backline and he continues to put in brilliant performances in the big games.

He was named as Arsenal’s best player against Liverpool yesterday, alongside Declan Rice.

Of course, Arsenal suffered massively last season after losing Saliba to an injury at the business end of the campaign.

Arteta will be hoping to avoid a similar situation this time around and at this moment in time, it could be argued that Saliba is Arsenal’s most important player.