Arsenal: Mikel Arteta told to drop ‘best in the world’ star and replace him with £42m teammate
Lewis Oldham William Saliba celebrates with Martin Zubimendi.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has been told why he needs to start Riccardo Calafiori over William Saliba at centre-back.
The Gunnersare coming off a difficult couple of weeks, with the north London side missing out on the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Arsenal failed to recover from the Carabao Cup final defeat when they faced Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday, suffering a shock 2-1 loss to exit the competition.
And in a further blow, centre-back Gabriel was forced off with a knee injury against Southampton, and Arteta said post-match that the issue might not be “good news”.
He and Salibahave formed one of the leading centre-back partnerships in the world, and Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand has backed the Frenchman to become the “best defender in the world”.
“I think he is going to be the best defender in the world,” Ferdinand said last year.
READ: Ranking Arsenal’s last seven PL games from easy to potential bottle job
“Saliba will be the best defender in the world when Virgil van Dijk gives up that post.
“As soon as that happens, it could be in a year, it could be three years. Whenever it’s going to be I don’t see anyone else taking over.”
Despite this, World Cup winner Marco Materazzi thinks his compatriot, Italy’s Calafiori, should start ahead of Saliba for Arsenal.
“I think Riccardo Calafiori is one of the best Italian defenders right now,” Materazzi told Hajper.
READ MORE: ‘Pathetic’ Arsenal are handing domestic Treble to Manchester City
“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.”
On Gabriel, Materazzi added: “I think right now in football you never know who will win the Ballon d’Or because if Lionel Messi wins the World Cup then he’ll score so many goals in Miami too.
“MLS is not the best league in the world but if he scores 40 goals in a season and wins the World Cup, I think he has the best chance to win the Ballon d’Or.
“It’s not easy for one defender to win the Ballon d’Or. Fabio Cannavaro was the last to do it but you never know in football. If Gabriel keeps scoring goals and wins some trophies for Arsenal too then why not?”
READ NEXT: How Declan Rice’s gypsy curse is responsible for Arsenal’s ongoing trophy drought
Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori
Related Articles
Lewis Oldham
Arsenal ‘favourites’ to sign Bayern Munich star as Gunners ‘decide on sale’ of three players
According to reports, Arsenal have become the ‘favourites’ to sign Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka, though they will have a ‘summer fire sale’.
Arsenal Ben White Joe Williams
Chelsea want Arsenal star in shock move with deal ‘not as impossible as you might expect’
Chelsea are looking to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Premier League rivals Arsenal in the summer transfer window, according to reports.
Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori James Holland
Frustrated Arsenal star makes shock exit admission: ‘I’d like to return’
The international star is struggling for game time under Mikel Arteta, making his comments even more pertinent.
Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori Joe Williams
Eberechi Eze plan revealed as Arsenal could ‘get rid’ of star in summer exit
Arsenal will not allow Eberechi Eze to leave in the summer but could look to offload another Mikel Arteta signing, according to reports.
Arsenal Eberechi Eze Joe Williams
Jones slams ‘fragile’ and ‘weak’ Arsenal pair as Man Utd sensed the ‘fear and desperation’
Phil Jones insists it was the “most fractious” he has seen Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba during their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.
Arsenal Gabriel Magalhaes Joe Williams
Arsene Wenger singles out two Arsenal players who were ‘nervous’ in Man Utd defeat
Arsene Wenger thinks Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba looked “nervous” in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal Arsene Wenger
Latest Football News
Arne Slot responds to Van Dijk, Liverpool ‘quit’ remarks as Isak return confirmed
Alexander Isak Arne Slot
Man Utd, Man City target Elliot Anderson makes transfer decision with ‘race won’ for £65m signing
Elliot Anderson
Newcastle sent ‘relegation’ warning amid Howe ‘doubts’ as Magpies star makes ‘decision on next move’
Eddie Howe Kieran Trippier
Spurs: Dyche reveals two reasons why ‘no amount of money’ would have tempted him to accept job
Sean Dyche
Arsenal told one club will stop them winning the Champions League – ‘I’d edge towards them’
Gareth Barry Paris Saint-Germain Mailbox
‘Unwatchable’ Arsenal have made neutrals support Man City
‘Pathetic’ Arsenal are handing domestic Treble to Manchester City
Mikel Arteta Popular
Arsenal ‘bottlemageddon’ continues as Liverpool should give Slot a statue… then sack him
Arne Slot Mikel Arteta
‘Wet wipe’ Steven Gerrard and his ‘neck’ are destroyed
Popular Steven Gerrard Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Slot ‘performed miracle’ with ‘ageing team’ and is not ‘getting the credit he deserves’ at Liverpool
Arne Slot Popular
England doomed to more World Cup quarter-final woe as ‘Arsenal star’ warns of ‘car crash’
De Zerbi ‘cancelled’ despite £60m Spurs agreement after ‘choosing not to exclude Greenwood’
Popular Roberto De Zerbi
Manchester United receive questionable ‘transfer boost’ over Tonali – and Spurs are ‘too good for’ De Zerbi
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.