Ferdinand praises Saliba but says he isn't Premier League's best centre-back
Rio Ferdinand was blown away by the performance of William Saliba in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Manchester City, but the former Manchester United star has stopped short of crowning the young Frenchman as the Premier League's best centre-back.
Saliba's performance up against Erling Haaland on Sunday drew rave reviews from onlookers, with one moment in particular going viral as he knocked Haaland over when the pair went shoulder to shoulder.
Ferdinand loved watching that, and used it as an example to show his son as he teaches him the art of defending. Speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, he said: "I have to say I watched the game and Saliba, it’s these games where you see if the boys have got the temperament and that counts for a lot in these big games.
"He’s cool as you like with and without the ball. I don’t think he’s been dribbled past in eight games. There was one moment I stopped the game and rewound it for me son because he plays centre-back.
"I said ‘watch this’! The ball gets played and he’s on the halfway line with Haaland. He’s giving all centre backs sleepless nights based on what he did last season. Saliba, the last person he saw before he went to sleep wouldn’t have been his missus, it would’ve been Haaland’s face.
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Saliba shone against Haaland on Sunday (Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)"Halfway line, someone plays the ball beyond the back four. As it’s being played him and Haaland are shoulder to shoulder and he just bounces him, Haaland goes over.
"Those little details, don’t put me in foot race, don’t need to, I could, but I don’t need to. He’s got little dark arts he’s introduced to his game. He seems cute around the box as well he’s calm under pressure, he’s happy to have the responsibility of hoofing the ball out at times.
"Him and Gabriel’s partnership is really blossoming I don’t think he does what he does without a good partner so you have to give Gabriel his flowers as well. He is the A-side in that partnership."
The Frenchman has formed a superb partnership at the back with Gabriel (Getty Images)Despite the praise though, Ferdinand feels that Saliba still has some way to go to be considered the best centre-back in the Premier League, with that honour going to an England international who came off the bench at the Emirates Stadium.
" John Stones is the best centre-half in the Premier League at the moment," he continued. "Defensively he was going back into the back four.
"John Stones, no other centre-half in the Premier League did what John Stones did last season. He could be in the argument, he’s such a different player, he’s brought more to the position because he’s being asked to. John Stones right now he looks so composed with the authority he plays with."
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