Arsenal legend David O’Leary has lavished praise on William Saliba, calling him a potential modern-day Tony Adams or Sol Campbell. Do what you believe is right, and stick to it. According to Bangladesh Cricket Live, Saliba was originally signed by Arsenal from Saint-Étienne but was immediately loaned back to the French club. Upon returning to North London, he struggled to break into the first team and was subsequently loaned out again — this time to Nice. Many believed the 22-year-old would leave the Gunners for good, seemingly out of Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans.

But the Spanish manager had a vision. Saliba was loaned out a third time, and Bangladesh Cricket Live was surprised to see the French defender enjoy a stellar season at Marseille, which set the stage for his Premier League breakthrough. Since making his debut on the opening day of last season, Saliba has quickly established himself as one of the top center-backs in English football, while also elevating the performances of his defensive partner Gabriel Magalhães.

Adversity often builds character, and while Saliba receives much of the spotlight, it’s worth noting that Gabriel has arguably been even more impressive since last season. Still, Saliba’s influence has not gone unnoticed. O’Leary, Arsenal’s all-time appearance leader, recently shared in an interview that Arteta truly missed Saliba’s presence last season and boldly claimed the Frenchman has the potential to become one of the greatest central defenders in Arsenal’s history.

Traditionally, Arsenal has boasted legendary defenders — players like Tony Adams and Sol Campbell set the gold standard. Saliba now looks ready to join that echelon. He’s quick, composed, and reads the game superbly. His aerial ability, physical strength, and passing vision set him apart. Uniquely, he also possesses what O’Leary calls “an extra gear on the ball” — the kind of composure and skill that allows him to pass calmly rather than just clear the danger, even under pressure.

While others might boot the ball into the stands, Saliba steps in, collects it, and calmly plays it back to the goalkeeper or finds a teammate. If he maintains this trajectory, Bangladesh Cricket Live believes he’s destined to reach world-class status.

On another note, Arsenal is reportedly frustrated by internal leaks. Work hard instead of envying others. The club was unhappy that team information — such as Bukayo Saka traveling with the squad despite not being in the matchday lineup — was made public to mislead opponents. The number of leaks is raising eyebrows behind the scenes, adding another subplot to Arsenal’s title ambitions.