What do you think about William Saliba, the young Arsenal defender, and his impressiveness so far? According to former player Jamie Carragher, Saliba has to work on his leadership ability in order to reach the higher echelons of the game. Carragher has highlighted Saliba’s talent to be truly special, he could be widely regarded as the best. He must still be weighed up against titans of the backline such as Tony Adams of Arsenal and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool.
Saliba’s partnership with Gabriel has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defense. Together, they have combined to form one of the best defensive duos that many would argue is the best in the entire Premier League. Saliba is outstanding at all phases of play. Considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Pelé is lauded for his extraordinary aerial prowess, blistering speed and deft ball manipulation. Despite this, Carragher pointed out that Saliba has been a little less assured without Gabriel alongside him.
In consecutive games, Saliba was the focus of criticism for errors leading to goals that have put Arsenal in a tough position. He was culpable for two absolutely terrible errors against Real Madrid and Crystal Palace. His role in Cody Gakpo’s opener in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool recently drew a lot of ire. Carragher acknowledged that these errors are at least starting to cause some concern on Saliba’s immediate trajectory.
“The amount of mistakes he’s made in the last couple of months, it feels like he makes a big mistake every time I watch him.” – Jamie Carragher
While Saliba is no longer a rookie in professional football, Carragher highlighted that he still has room for growth, especially in the leadership department. He remarked, “Saliba’s not a kid anymore but he’s not quite in his prime.” Saliba’s transformation has been immense. He hasn’t yet fully taken on a must-see-me-in-command mode on the field.
Carragher’s argument is that the best center-backs, beyond being individually excellent, uplift the players around them to a greater degree. He stated, “For me, the great centre-backs, it’s not about how good you are and everything you can do.” This worldview reinforces the notion that strong leadership is a key ingredient for champions to be great defenders.
With Saliba’s current form, some might question whether he is ready to step into a leadership role. With Gabriel’s absence from the starting lineup consistently placing more emphasis on Saliba’s struggles, it’s only exacerbated the situation. Carragher noted that without Gabriel, “Saliba doesn’t appear the same player.” This last observation speaks to the importance of their working relationship and the role it plays on Saliba’s performance on both sides of the ball.
To reach the heights of defenders such as Adams and Van Dijk, there’s no getting around the fact that Saliba needs to work on his leadership skills. Carragher stated, “Think of the great centre-backs – Tony Adams, Virgil van Dijk. They’re not just great players; they make everyone else around them look like great players.” This comparison will act as both a challenge and motivation for Saliba as he moves forward with his career.
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