Arsenal defender William Saliba played the full ninety minutes in France’s 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory against Ukraine. The twenty-four-year-old centre-back partnered with Dayot Upamecano and displayed composure and confidence throughout the match.
Saliba maintained a high passing accuracy of ninety-three percent. Defensively, he was solid, recording eight ball recoveries, six clearances and winning four aerial duels. French media praised his performance and agreed that he was among the most reliable players on the team.
Eurosport.fr rated him six out of ten, highlighting his steady display beside the less convincing Upamecano. RMC Sport gave similar feedback, appreciating his clean distribution and flawless defending. Foot Mercato rated him six and a half, noting his calm evening and assurance in aerial battles. Le Quotidien du Sport emphasized that Saliba was largely responsible for Ukraine’s minimal attacking threat.
Saliba is enjoying an excellent first half of the season both with Arsenal and the national team. With the London club, he has contributed to ten clean sheets and become an essential part of France’s defense. Didier Deschamps’ team has already secured qualification for the World Cup, and the final qualifier against Azerbaijan will serve as further preparation. Saliba is expected to start again.
After the international break, the defender will return to London to prepare for the North London derby against Tottenham on November twenty-third. With a few days off after Sunday’s match, he will have enough time for recovery and preparation.
