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Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

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France’s media noticed something different about Arsenal’s William Saliba in 2-0 win over Croatia

Lucas Arnold
Lucas Arnold

Arsenal defender William Saliba rarely has a quiet international break when he goes away with his country, France.

At 24-years-old, Saliba has now earned 26 caps for France an🦩d has seemingly won the confidence of Didier Deschamps too.

However, that does not stop the Arsenal defender from being heavily scrutinised whilst playing for his country – 💙t🤡he reality for most wearing France’s famous blue.

That being said, Saliba 🍃was criticised a💝fter France’s defeat to Croatia in the firs✃t leg of their Europa Nations League play-off, a surprise ♛result for Deschamps’ side.

Fo🍸rtunately, in the return leg back on home soil on Sunday 🦩evening, France were able to win 2-0 and take the game to penalties after extra-time, a shoot-out they won 7-4.

William Saliba changes his game after difficult outing for France

Saliba played the entire game alongside Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano and like most of France’s players, he improved on his per𝐆formance in Croatia a few days prior.

Interestingly, actually noticed a change that the Arsenal man made to his game on Sunday too – he was playing safer with his passes, perhaps as a result of the𒐪 first leg.

Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

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Handing Saliba a 7/10, they ꦏwrote: “Hꦫe’s much more cautious in his choice of passes. But he was tough in the duel. 

“The Gunners’ 💦rock started ꧑by blocking a shot that was going well and then showed his physicality.”

also gave Saliba a 7/10, using a rather interesting ph𓄧rase to explain his return to form.

Translated from ༺French, they wrote: “Once again lined up in the centre of the French defence despite a more than questionable ꦰquarter-final first leg on an individual level, the Gunner put the church back in the middle of the village.

“Confident in his interventions (60% of due🌳ls won), he constantly got the better of [Ante] Budimir.”

noted a ‘quiet’ evening for Saliba on their part, one that the defender would probably be q♊uite grateful for after the scrutiny of the fir๊st leg.

Handing him a 6/10, they simply said: “A very quiet evening for him, but he handed in a very clean c🐓🐬opy overall.”

Saliba will be crucial for Arsenal against Real Madrid

Following the conclusion of Saliba’s efforts for France over the break, all eyes will now be on Arsenal’s upcomꦿing tie with Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta’s side do have two Premier League games before then – they’ll host Fulham and then travel to Ev𒊎erto﷽n before welcoming Real to the Emirates.

But given the reality of the title race and Liverpool’s lead, Arsenal would be forgiven for having one eye on their upcomi⛎ng quarter-f🔜inal.

Fortunately for the Gunners, Saliba has confirmed his commitment to Arsenal ahead of facing the side he’s often linked to.

Saliba wants to win trophies with Arsenal, and his individual performances ce𓂃rtainly deserve to.