William Saliba earned the praise of Rio Ferdinand after Arsenal’s win over Manchester City for mastering the “dark arts” of the game.
Erling Haaland finished the game without a shot as the Gunners ran out 1-0 victors courtesy of a deflected Gabriel Martinelli late on in Sunday’s game.
While many have focused on Haaland’s disappointing performance at the Emirates Stadium, former England defender Ferdinand felt Saliba had the Norwegian in his pocket.
“I have to say I watched the game and Saliba, it’s these games where you see if the boys have got the temperament and that counts for a lot in these big games,” he told his YouTube show, Vibe with Five.
“He’s cool as you like with and without the ball. I don’t think he’s been dribbled past in eight games. There was one moment I stopped the game and rewound it for my son because he plays centre-back. I said, ‘Watch this!’.
“The ball gets played and he’s on the halfway line with Haaland. He’s giving all centre-backs sleepless nights based on what he did last season. Saliba, the last person he saw before he went to sleep wouldn’t have been his missus, it would’ve been Haaland’s face.
“Halfway line, someone plays the ball beyond the back four. As it’s being played him and Haaland are shoulder to shoulder and he just bounces him, Haaland goes over.
“Those little details, ‘Don’t put me in foot race, don’t need to, I could, but I don’t need to’. He’s got little dark arts he’s introduced to his game. He seems cute around the box as well he’s calm under pressure, he’s happy to have the responsibility of hoofing the ball out at times.
“His and Gabriel’s partnership is really blossoming. I don’t think he does what he does without a good partner so you have to give Gabriel his flowers as well. He is the A-side in that partnership.”
