Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has received a message to drop a star player as the Gunners prepare to face Manchester City
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta has been told to drop one of his key Arsenal players(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been instructed to boldly drop William Saliba at a vital point of the season. The centre-back has been a mainstay of the Gunners’ backline since breaking into the team four years ago.
The 25-year-old’s formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has been pivotal in Arsenal's emergence as Premier League title contenders. The league leaders have once again conceded the fewest goals so far this term, underlining the importance of Saliba’s contributions.
He is widely considered to be one of the best in the world in his position. However, the France international was criticised for his display against Sporting CP on Wednesday, despite Arteta’s team keeping a clean sheet and progressing to the Champions League semi-finals.
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has argued that the defender has fallen below his impeccable standards at a crucial time in the campaign. Saliba returned to the side last month after a brief spell out with an ankle injury.
Speaking at half-time during Arsenal ’s stalemate with Sporting CP, Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live : “Saliba, since he got into the Arsenal team, he has been an absolute rock at the back, but he does not look the player he once was.”
Sutton is not alone in believing that Saliba has suffered a dip in form. Italian football icon Marco Materazzi recently called for the Arsenal boss to play his compatriot Riccardo Calafiori in the heart of defence alongside Gabriel.
“I think Riccardo Calafiori is one of the best Italian defenders right now,” Materazzi told Hajper. “He grew very fast when he was at Bologna.
“Now Arsenal must believe in him. The best way for Arsenal is for Calafiori to be allowed to play his best football.
“For me, Calafiori is best at centre-back. Arsenal should play Calafiori with Gabriel instead of William Saliba. He has a very good left foot.”
William Saliba of Arsenal
William Saliba's form has been scrutinised by pundits(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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The 23-year-old has primarily been used at left-back since signing for the Gunners in 2024. Calafiori missed the game against Sporting and is one of several Arsenal players struggling for fitness, alongside Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners have another huge clash on the horizon as they prepare to face title rivals Manchester City on Sunday. Arteta’s side currently sit six points clear, having played a game more, but a defeat at the Etihad Stadium could halve their lead.
The team’s recent loss to City in the Carabao Cup final, followed by defeats to Southampton in the FA Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League, has raised concerns about Arsenal ahead of the title run-in. The side have six matches remaining as Arteta aims to end the club’s 22-year wait for a league title.
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