Arsenal defender Ben White has showered praise on his teammate William Saliba, hailing the French centre-back’s incredible defensive abilities. Speaking during an interview with Ben Foster for Amazon Prime, White revealed how no one in training even bothers to try getting past Saliba, as his level of performance makes it seem futile.
Saliba, who took time to settle into his role at Arsenal, has emerged as one of the top centre-backs in the Premier League over the past two seasons. Alongside Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes, Saliba was named in the 2023/24 Premier League Team of the Season, forming a formidable partnership in Arsenal’s backline.
“It’s been unbelievable. I’m not sure I’ve seen two better together,” White said about the Saliba-Gabriel defensive duo. He emphasized Saliba’s talent, noting, “There’s nothing I could say that is a weakness… he’s still so young, but nobody can get past him in training because there’s just no point trying.”
While Arsenal’s defense has been one of the best in the league this season, the team has struggled with clean sheets in recent matches. They will be looking to address this issue as they prepare for their next fixture against Bournemouth.
White also lauded Gabriel’s aerial prowess, particularly during set-pieces, which have become a key part of Arsenal’s attacking strategy under set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. “Every time you get a corner, you kind of know you’re going to score. If the ball is in the right area, it’s a goal for sure, which is amazing,” White said.
In addition to his thoughts on the defensive unit, White praised David Raya, who has replaced Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper. “You could see the level straight away in training,” White commented, expressing confidence in Raya’s abilities. “The saves he’s been making recently… that’s like every day in training. He’s been so consistent under pressure, and his technique is top.”
Arsenal’s defensive strength, led by Saliba, Gabriel, and Raya, will be crucial as they look to maintain their form in the Premier League.