Arsenal bound William Saliba has been plying his trade at Saint-Étienne this season, the club that he has been rising up through the youth ranks of since 2016.
The 19-year-old centre-back has been sidelined with a couple of separate injury issues during the 2019/20 campaign.
However, he enjoyed a consistent run in the Saint-Étienne first-team just prior to Ligue 1’s recent postponement.
Saliba will join the Gunners next season and though he’s still a teenager, Saliba may provide an immediate first-team option at Arsenal.
The Saint-Étienne defender has showcased his composure and quality on the ball and helped his side begin attacks from the back throughout the 2019/20 season.
Additionally, Saliba has exhibited an advanced ability to read the game at a young age, which, when combined with his large frame, physical nature and relative quickness, make him a formidable challenge for opposition attackers.
In this tactical analysis piece, we will delve into Saliba’s key attributes and pick apart what may make him a standout player for Saint-Étienne.
Furthermore, this scout report will also take a look at some areas in which there may be room for improvement for the promising young defender.
Intelligence and impressive ability to read the game
Saliba has exhibited an impressive ability to read the game for a defender who is still just 19 years old.
His intelligent reading of the game is often displayed on the pitch through his defensive positioning, which helps him to effectively make plenty of interceptions.
Saliba has made 4.08 interceptions per 90 this season, according to Wyscout.
Saliba’s ability to intercept the ball is one of his primary defensive attributes.
At times, the young Saint-Étienne defender appears to simply attract the ball to himself.
Saliba’s intelligent reading of the game and impressive defensive positioning help him to occupy optimal positions off the ball, which ultimately give him an advantage when attempting to win the ball back in his final third.
This image above provides us with an example of Saliba calmly reading the game in order to position himself excellently to prevent an opposition through ball from reaching the centre-forward.
His calmness and composure in defence notably remain steadfast in scenarios like the one being presented in this image, despite him being the last man protecting his goalkeeper from encountering a 1v1 situation.
