Arsenal legend Martin Keown has claimed that William Saliba is better than fellow defender Gabriel Magalhaes after Thursday's 2-2 draw against Sporting CP in the first round of their Europa League clash
Saliba broke the deadlock after 22 minutes, heading in a Fabio Vieira corner before the home side equaliser shortly after from a corner of their own. Paulinho's second-half finish gave Sporting the lead but an own goal from Japanese defender Hidemasa Morita meant the score finished level.
After the match, Gunners hero Keown was full of praise for Saliba, comparing him to Arsenal icon Tony Adams in the process. Speaking about the 21-year-old to BT Sport, Keown said: "I think he's growing in stature, just listening to him speak and the goal he scored tonight, his performance - he's a proper central defender.
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"He and Gabriel make for a really good partnership, I think he's ahead of Gabriel. He's doing everything you want, there's a hunger, taking responsibility as he wants to get into the next round.
"He's given everything for the cause. He's very composed, strong. Again he's got the ingredient, of pace.
"Look at the goal, I guess Tony Adams was noted for scoring at set-pieces and he's got in on the act again - it's a nice habit if your head is the first to the ball in either box. It's a really nice header, keeps it down."
Arsenal will welcome Sporting to the Emirates Stadium next Thursday for the second leg but first up is their Premier League clash away to Fulham.
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