Arsenal secured a tough draw in their Champions League Round of 16 campaign away from home. The North London side faced a robust Bayer Leverkusen side but managed to keep their unbeaten run intact. A major highlight was the return of the Gunners’ defensive pillar William Saliba after an injury.
The return of William Saliba
William Saliba picked up an ankle injury during a 2-1 victory against Chelsea on March 1st. He scored the opening goal in that match and put up a solid 90-minute display of football. But he did feel some discomfort late in the game. Saliba originally twisted his left ankle back in August, but Arteta explained that this time the knock was on the other one. The issue kept him out of the recent wins over Brighton and Mansfield.
As per reports, Mikel Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday that Saliba is fit to start. Arteta told reporters that he is ready to return after the ankle issue that troubled him over the past week.
The defender was back in action at the BayArena. Back in the starting XI, Saliba took his place in the back four alongside Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes and Piero Hincapie.
William Saliba against Leverkusen
Arsenal faced a tough test against Bayer Leverkusen in a hostile atmosphere. The Gunners almost took the lead when Gabriel Martinelli struck the crossbar in the first half. However, Bayer took the lead early in the second period through a header from Robert Andrich. The visitors found a late equaliser after Noni Madueke won a penalty, which Kai Havertz converted.
Meanwhile, the returning William Saliba went through an unpleasant night. The Frenchman and his defensive partner Gabriel were often troubled by the 19-year-old Christian Kofane. Stats show he played the full 90 minutes and covered 10.4 kilometres. He completed 77 out of 86 passes, with a 90% accuracy rate. His distribution in his own half was really notable, reaching 93% accuracy. Moreover, he won all of his aerial duels, and no opponent dribbled past him during the game.
However, one blemish in his display was an error that took place in the second half. A heavy touch from him nearly allowed Leverkusen to score from an open goal. But David Raya’s intervention saved his blushes.
The Defensive Pillar of Arsenal
The return of the French international provides a massive boost as the season reaches a climax. Saliba is a core pillar for the team as they pursue a historic Quadruple quest. As per reports, the Gunners win about 68.5 per cent of their matches when he plays. Without him, that figure falls to just 45 per cent. Furthermore, the team concedes an average of just 0.8 goals per match with the defender in the squad. Without him, that number jumps to 1.35.
His ability to carry the ball remains elite within the modern game. For instance, he has completed 1,519 passes in the league this season. This is more than any other player at his club. His number exceeds the numbers of top midfielders like Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. He currently ranks 10th across the entire Premier League for completed passes. His presence is essential for the high backline that Arsenal employ. Without him, the defence often loses balance because of the lack of recovery pace.
The North London club has several crucial fixtures coming up. This includes a Premier League match against Everton tonight and the return leg at the Emirates on Wednesday. The squad looks much stronger with their first-choice centre-back pairing of Saliba and Gabriel back on the pitch.
Looking forward
Arsenal return to the Emirates with their Champions League hopes very much alive. The second leg offers a golden chance to reach the next round. Saliba is now back and fit. Mikel Arteta will be confident his side can finish the job in front of their home crowd.
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Souvik Bose
Souvik Bose is a junior football writer at Football Express, where he contributes articles focused on ongoing developments and discussions from the football world. His work involves covering news stories, key talking points, and the narratives that shape how fans engage with the sport.At Football Express, Souvik focuses on delivering football coverage that is timely, informative, and accessible to readers following the game closely. His writing reflects a deep interest in the evolving culture of football and the stories that emerge around the sport’s biggest moments.
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