Several French media outlets have ripped into Arsenal defender William Saliba after a horror display in France’s 2-1 Nations League win over Belgium.
In a rare disappointing evening for the centre-back, Saliba conceded a penalty for a foul on Lois Openda and then allowed the same player to get in behind him and score Belgium’s only goal of the match, after Youri Tielemans had missed the earlier spot-kick.
In the 77th minute after Saliba had given the ball away cheaply, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni felt that he had to foul Tielemans who was in on goal and he received a second yellow card and an early bath.
Saliba ended up celebrating after two Randal Kolo Muani goals sealed a 2-1 victory for Didier Deschamps’ side, but he has not escaped criticism from the French press with his wayward passing and poor marking coming under the spotlight.
So Foot gave Saliba a 2/10 rating, the worst of any player on the pitch, and the outlet wrote: “Penalty, (yellow) card, loss of ball… Fortunately, Openda ended up not taking advantage of his elastic marking before half-time because he would have felt obliged to score this goal himself.”
He received the same rating from Didocu Sport who said: “There is a lot to say about his match and not much good. He undoubtedly had his worst match in Blue.
“He concedes the penalty for a foul on Lois Openda and receives a yellow card where he clearly does well. He leaves behind the same Lois Openda on the Belgian equalizer. And where is he when Aurelien Tchouameni has to sacrifice himself and take a red card… in the position of the last defender?!”
He was handed a slightly improved score from Eurosport at 3/10, but similar complaints were made of the 23-year-old: “What a painful evening for the Arsenal defender… Saliba caused big problems for his defence with faulty alignment on too many Belgian transitions. On the action of the penalty, he not only mows down Openda, he also covers him.
“It is he, too, who loses the ball on the Belgian equalizer before forgetting the Leipzig striker behind his back. He still covers Tielemans on a dubious alignment. A loss of the ball which he could have done without and, overall, a very steep addition even if he cuts off a hot cross at the last minute.”
Saliba had been moved to the left side of central defence in order to accommodate Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, but few would argue that the slight change in position is enough to escape any criticism.
Arsenal will hope that their key defender won’t have his confidence shot after a disappointing display away with the national team, having spent a significant period of time trying to win over Deschamps before finally breaking into the starting lineup.
It has been another frustrating break for the Gunners and they will be desperate for Saliba to make a quick return to form, after injury worries for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli added to Mikel Arteta’s woes.
