Former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock has admitted that he has one criticism of Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

William Saliba produced an exceptional performance at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, helping Arsenal to record a 1-0 win against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.

Saliba was faultless, as he dominated superstar striker Erling Haaland, ensuring that the Norwegian wasn’t even able to attempt a single effort on goal in the match.

Such eye-catching displays are becoming the norm for Saliba. The 22-year-old Frenchman has been consistently brilliant since making his debut for the Gunners at the start of last season. The £27 million defender is a fixture of Mikel Arteta’s regular starting XI and has become a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium.

The most exciting thing is that, due to his age, the 10-cap France international is likely to keep improving for some time yet. That is why it was so important for Arsenal to tie Saliba down to a new long-term contract in the summer.

Arteta can now count on the £190,000-a-week star being at the heart of the Arsenal rearguard for years to come. 

Saliba tasked with one area to improve in

However, for all the plaudits he has earned in recent times, there are still a few who feel there are flaws in Saliba’s game.

One such flaw has been highlighted by Stephen Warnock. Speaking on TalkSport (09/10/2023, 17:06), the pundit said, “the only thing I don’t like about [Saliba] is I don’t like him going to ground as soon as there is a little bit of contact. You are a strong lad, just show your quality. You should bully him, be stronger than him…I think he is brilliant.”

Going to ground at every opportunity in order to win set pieces may well be something that Saliba is instructed to do by Arteta. Winning a free kick is an excellent way to alleviate defensive pressure, after all. Though, it is a strategy that comes with some risk, as Arsenal would be exposed if the referee opted not to blow his whistle.

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