When Arsenal lost William Saliba towards the final leg of the last season, the team saw a massive dip in form which eventually cost them the title. Draws against Liverpool, and West Ham and a loss to Brighton were the final nail in the coffin. This not only put Arsenal second in the league but handed Manchester City their third consecutive Premier League trophy. However, something tells us that the mood is a little different now from last year and history will not repeat itself. Fortunately for all Arsenal fans, the answer is Saliba.
How It Went Wrong For Arsenal Without William Saliba?
For the majority of the 2022/23 season, the Gunners led the league table and looked solid. Many predicted the team to drop down the ladder, especially starting in February. The team in the past was a victim of poor form in the ‘romantic month’, courtesy of playing Champions League. But that did not prove to be the case as the North London team did not have to deal with any European action. They were knocked out by Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League and were left with one target in mind, the domestic league.
So, the month of February was a smooth sail for Arsenal and the team was on course to finish on top. Unfortunately for them, they lost Saliba in March due to an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the season. From there on, the sudden downfall of the team started and a nightmare of results soon followed. The defense looked out of place and despite Gabriel trying his best, he was missing his partner. Mikel Arteta’s side choked under pressure while Pep’s City cruised through the remaining fixtures.
How is Arsenal Doing This Season With a Fully Fit William Saliba?
Numbers do not tell the entire story but they are always accurate. This is the case with Arsenal as they boast the best defensive record in the 29 games played so far. Saliba has been part of all the games and his partnership with the Gabriel has proved to be the best. Moreover, the team’s back four seems solid and completely in sync with each other.
The Gunners are leading the Premier League by conceding only 24 goals while scoring 70, with the best goal difference of 46. Saliba, who turned 23 last week leads the pack with an impressive 61% tackle rate. He has won almost twice (104) as many duels as he has lost (71). His most impressive feat this season is not making any error leading to a goal. Furthermore, the prolific defender has two goals and an assist to his name.
His contribution is keeping Arsenal in the title hunt as they are going toe-to-toe with Liverpool and City in the race.
Is There Any Worthy Candidate Other Than Saliba For Player Of the Season?
Liverpool captain Virgil Van Djik is another potential candidate for Premier League’s Player of the Season. Despite so many injuries in the team, the Dutch international has been a constant inspiration throughout this campaign. His solid defense along with goalscoring prowess has lifted the team to the top of the points table for now. A serious threat to Saliba, the 32-year-old has two goals and two assists to his name already.
Nevertheless, the two players have raised the bar when it comes to defense. Their names coming in the conversation for Player of the Season alongside attacking players is a great testament to their respective contributions.
About Author
Siddharth prefers to watch almost any sport under the sun. From Soccer to Cricket to Tennis, to NFL and NBA, he follows it all. A literary student and someone who dreams to be a musician one day as well.