The Gunners icon has no doubts over who is the best defender in the Premier League.
Thierry Henry believes that Arsenal star William Saliba is currently the best defender in the Premier League by a wide margin.
Saliba has become vital for the Gunners since his debut in 2022. He has played every single minute of the Premier League and Champions League games this season. His performances in the defense have helped the club keep nine clean sheets in 20 outings.
“Right now, I think he is [the best defender], by a mile,” Henry said on Amazon Prime Sport.
“The way he can defend a 1 v 1, the way he allows Arsenal to stay higher [up the pitch] and defend the 45-50 yards behind him is second to none.
“His speed, the way he recovers, and when he recovers the ball he doesn’t just kick it into the stands – he tries to get it back [to his teammates] which is important.”
Saliba signed for Arsenal in 2019 from French team St-Etienne for a €30 million fee. Yet, the 22-year-old had to wait three years for his senior debut, having returned to France on loan at St-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille.
“I was working in France when he was on loan to Marseille [in 2021/22],” former Arsenal striker Henry added.
“I was surprised that Arsenal didn’t keep him because I thought he was better than what we had. But he went on loan and he came back and he showed everybody that that was a mistake and now he’s now the best defender in the league.”
Saliba will likely be called upon again on Saturday when Arsenal face Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Is William Saliba the best defender in the Premier League this season? 🤔
Thierry Henry certainly thinks so!#PLonPrime #LUTARS pic.twitter.com/h5uY0gIqzm
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 5, 2023
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