William Gallas Strongly Criticizes An Arsenal Center-Back, Stating, He Has The Potential To Be A Catastrophe.
Former Arsenal captain William Gallas has expressed his opinion that William Saliba’s struggles at the international level can be attributed to his occasional shortcomings, describing him as “sometimes a liability” for the Gunners.
Despite Saliba’s impressive performances since returning from loan spells in France and forming a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes in defense, he continues to face challenges in establishing himself in Didier Deschamps’s France squad.
Saliba’s contributions have been instrumental in Arsenal’s rise to contention for the Premier League title and their progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. However, he has encountered difficulties in gaining consistent opportunities with the French national team.
With competition from players like Benjamin Pavard, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, and Dayot Upamecano, Saliba has faced stiff competition for a place in the national team lineup. Deschamps himself has voiced concerns about Saliba’s form when questioned about the Arsenal player’s performances.
“Saliba’s performance can vary greatly,” Gallas remarked to Get French Football News, reflecting on his own extensive international career with 84 caps and participation in France’s journey to the 2006 World Cup final. He suggested that Saliba’s limited playing time for the national team could be linked to some less-than-stellar moments during his time at Arsenal.
“France boasts a wealth of talented young central defenders. The challenge lies in identifying who will consistently perform and secure starting positions,” Gallas explained.
“Saliba faces tough competition from the likes of Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool and Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munich. While Saliba can demonstrate brilliance at times, he also displays inconsistency, occasionally leading to disappointing performances.
“This inconsistency poses a challenge for Didier Deschamps in selecting the ideal center-back partnership. In most other national teams, Saliba would likely secure a place in the starting lineup effortlessly. However, in the French national team, the competition is fierce, particularly considering their recent success. We undoubtedly have some exceptional young center-backs in the French squad.”
Is Saliba’s inconsistency a significant concern for Arsenal and potential suitors?
Similar to other center-backs worldwide, Saliba is not immune to occasional defensive lapses; he recalled two errors he made in February when reflecting on Aaron Ramsdale’s recent mistake against Brentford.
There have been a couple of shaky moments that come to mind when considering notable blunders by Saliba, including his conceding of a penalty in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, and his involvement in Evan Ferguson’s goal for Brighton & Hove Albion in December 2022.
However, labeling Saliba as a “disaster” on certain occasions seems questionable; in the current Premier League season, the 23-year-old has committed only two errors leading to a shot, with none resulting in goals.
According to FBref statistics, Saliba also ranks in the top 9% of center-backs in the major five European leagues for the percentage of dribblers tackled (72.4%) per 90 minutes over the past year, and in the top 4% for challenges lost with just 0.19.
Furthermore, the defender’s composed demeanor on the ball continues to impress Arsenal fans—he ranks in the top 10% of Premier League players for pass completion with 92.3%. However, given his move from Arsenal to Tottenham Hotspur, few Gooners may fully trust Gallas’s assessment.
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