Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been told by former Gunner William Gallas that William Saliba has a "problem" at the Emirates as he has no senior centre-back to learn from.
After three loan spells away from the club before he'd even featured in a competitive clash for Arsenal, Saliba has finally been integrated into the first-team fold this season and has slotted in seamlessly. The 21-year-old has arguably been the Gunners' most impressive player so far this term, adapting to life in the Premier League with ease.
With things going swimmingly at the Emirates, Saliba will have one eye on cementing his place in the France squad for the upcoming Qatar World Cup. However, Gallas has expressed fears over the fact there isn't a seasoned veteran playing alongside the young Gunner that he can learn from.
"At the moment Saliba doesn’t have anyone. When I talk about experienced players, I’m talking about top-class defenders. That’s why I’m a little bit worried for him." Gallas told Genting Casino. "If he wants to go to another level he needs to be next to top-class defenders. But it’s always the same problem, who is going to be next to you to learn?
"If we speak about John Terry, who was next to him? Marcel Desailly. Rio Ferdinand? He was next to Vidic, or I’m not sure who before that. All the defenders, they learned from someone. Nesta, he was next to Maldini.
"So for defenders to go to the next level you need that. When he turns 25, 26, it will be his turn to lead the defensive line and he will play with young players who will learn from him. For example Fofana, he has a great opportunity to learn a lot from Thiago Silva."
Arteta's first choice back-four this term has been made up of Ben White at right-back, Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of the defence and summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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With an average of just 24, the Gunners have one of the youngest defences in the division.
At the tender age of 21, it is true that Saliba could benefit from having a more senior head next to him. Arsenal's next clash is a home game against fierce rivals and North London neighbours Tottenham - a game where more often than not, cool heads prevail.
The last time these two sides met the Gunners capitulated inside the first 45 minutes, going in at the break two goals and a man down after Rob Holding's foolish red card.
Saliba has shown in the games he's starred in so far that he boasts an incredible amount of calmness and composure, but Spurs will boast an entirely different kind of test to any he has faced in an Arsenal shirt as of yet.
