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Topics: William Saliba, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Virgil Van Dijk
Matthew Holt
Topics: William Saliba, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Virgil Van Dijk
William Saliba believes he is edging ever closer to becoming the best centre-back in world football.
Saliba, 23, has enjoyed a euphoric rise with Arsenal over the past two seasons, impressing heavily for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta's side were narrowly tipped by eventual Premier League winners Manchester City last season, missing out by just two points.
Saliba has since formed an almighty partnership with Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal's defence.
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There are very few central defenders in world football who could rightfully claim to be in better form than Saliba and have a greater standing in the game than the Frenchman but one notable exception is Liverpool stalwart Virgil van Dijk.
“I have been on the right track for both seasons, mainly last season," Saliba recently told Fox Sports Mexico.
"I’m perhaps on my way to becoming the best defender in the world.
"I think I’m one of the best at the moment, but to say that I have to win some titles.
"I think that’s what I’m missing right now,” Saliba explained.
“If you win titles, you’re good and if you don’t, you can’t say you’re the best.
"That’s what I believe. I’m one of the best in the world.”
Since returning to the Emirates in the summer of 2022, the defender has cemented his place in Arteta’s preferred starting lineup.
A loan spell with Marseille allowed the defender to earn his flowers but he has since quickly won the hearts of Gunners fans.
Arsenal face Pep Guardiola's side this weekend in arguably the biggest Premier League game of the season so far.
Expected to be hot on City's tail once again this term, Saliba admitted his team's focus remains the same.
“Of course, we want to compete against Manchester City as we have done [in] the last two seasons but we know we have to do more,” he said.
“As I said, we have to compete against City but we also have to do it against the other teams because it’s not just against City.
“If you win against them but not against others it doesn’t mean anything. So, of course we want to win this weekend and we will give everything to win but it’s not the end on Sunday.”