Martin Keown hails ‘brilliant’ William Saliba, declaring the Arsenal star is ‘growing in stature’ and building into a ‘proper central defender’ adhering to his objective from Sporting
Martin Keown has heaped praise on William Saliba soon after his target in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Sporting in the Europa League on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta built a variety of changes from the side that conquer Bournemouth in dramatic vogue final Saturday, but Saliba remained in the starting off line-up and gave the Gunners the direct with a fantastic header in the 22nd moment.
Arsenal have been unable to hold on for a acquire in Lisbon, but Keown was even now impressed by Saliba, and believes he is going from energy to energy due to the fact returning from numerous loan spells in France.
‘Just a phrase on Saliba, a participant that Arsenal acquired a few several years ago, and went out on bank loan for 3 seasons, you’d be contemplating “am I actually likely to be an Arsenal participant?” Keown advised BT Activity.
‘This is his initially year as an Arsenal player and in the initial match of the season towards Crystal Palace he was gentleman of the match and he’s been outstanding at any time since.
Arsenal’s William Saliba got on the scoresheet with a effectively-positioned header in the initially half
Martin Keown has praised Saliba for coming into the Arsenal side and creating a important impact
‘I think he is growing in stature, just listening to him discuss and the intention he scored tonight, his effectiveness – he’s a proper central defender. He and Gabriel make for a seriously superior partnership, I assume he’s ahead of Gabriel.
‘He’s undertaking anything you want, there is certainly a hunger, having duty as he desires to get into the upcoming spherical. He’s presented every little thing for the cause.
‘He’s pretty composed, solid. Again he is got the component, of pace. Appear at the intention, I guess Tony Adams was famous for scoring at set-pieces and he’s bought in on the act once again – it truly is a good behavior if your head is the 1st to the ball in possibly box. It is a genuinely wonderful header, keeps it down.’
Arsenal are most likely to enter next week’s return leg as favourites to development to the quarter-finals of the Europa League in front of their residence fans at the Emirates Stadium following securing a attract in the Portuguese money.
Keown feels Arteta’s adult males will have wished to give on their own some respiration house in the tie by profitable the 1st leg, but admitted they could have no complaints with the consequence.
‘I feel they would have needed to acquire the recreation,’ Keown explained. ‘But in the close I feel a attract was a truthful end result.’
