Football feature: Is William Saliba already a world-class centre-back? How important has he been for Arsenal this season?

Their recent 1-0 away victory against Chelsea was a big moment for an ambitious Arsenal side replete with youngsters who haven't yet peaked in their respective careers.  

Concerning their refreshing performance against the Blues, football expert Fabrizio Romano lauded the back four and praised their defensive tactics against Graham Potter's lacklustre side at Stamford Bridge.

Defender Gabriel Magalhaes scoured ahead to score the winner for Arsenal, but Romano's eyes were on young French centre-back William Saliba who he declared "world-class."

The Italian journalist also praised Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko for the level they performed at, and this indeed looks like the best back four Arsenal has had for many years.

"This was a very impressive win for Arsenal. They have a fantastic defence, really. Saliba is a world-class player, Gabriel Magalhaes is doing fantastic and they trusted both of them during the whole summer," Romano shared.

In a game that was expected to be a close contest between the two sides, Arsenal was able to eke out a hard-fought 1-0 victory after a goal in the 63rd minute by Gabriel Magalhaes. 

However, he wasn't the sole bringer of glory for the Gunners. William Saliba, who was in direct contention with 38-year-old Thiago Silva, one of the world's best defenders in the world, stole the show. 

In addition, he also posed a definite threat to the likes of Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and former Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. From the get-go, Saliba was a dominant force both aerially and on the ground. 

Saliba did not allow a moment of rest to the Blues, who were fighting for life. He won possession 13 times, bagged three interceptions and was not dribbled past.

The 21-year-old had great control over the ball and finished with a passing accuracy of 84.5% and a crossing success of 100%.

After a stellar performance, Saliba was named player of the match by BT Sport commentator Jermaine Jenas. "I have to give it to William Saliba because he's really impressed me. He's commanded things from the back and been assured on the ball. He's different class, he's been in different gear all game really," said the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder. 

Arsenal's star defender William Saliba's 2022-23 record so far

William Saliba's journey at the Emirates Stadium started in 2019, and the 21-year-old was spread out over several loan stints with the likes of Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille. 

After his brilliant performance in Ligue 1, Arteta named him in the starting lineup for the Gunners this season. The Frenchman has netted twice and assisted in the 2022/2023 season.

His defensive skills have earned him 32 aerial duels and 19 tackles. On top of this, he landed five blocks in total. Apart from an unfortunate own goal against Leicester City and an average display at Old Trafford, Saliba has been a crucial player in the Arsenal defence.

The 21-year-old is also well-suited for the high physicality of the Premier League, which has increased his likeability among fans who want to witness more of him in Arsenal for the foreseeable future.