Didier Deschamps explains why William Saliba struggles to replicate Arsenal form for France
- Saliba has established himself as one of the Premier League's best centre-backs with Arsenal
- Gunners defender not yet a regular starter for France, with just ten caps to his name
- Deschamps believes Saliba is not used to competition for minutes
By Tom Gott
France manager Didier Deschamps has claimed that Arsenal centre-back William Saliba is not used to the pressure that comes with competition for minutes.
Saliba has confirmed his status as one of the Premier League's finest defenders since his move to Arsenal but the 22-year-old is yet to make the same impact on the international stage with France, for whom he has ten caps since his debut in March 2022.
While injuries have limited his involvement with France, Saliba has also struggled for minutes even when available and Deschamps has now suggested the young centre-back is yet to adapt to the pressure of uncertain minutes.
"Saliba is very efficient," Deschamps began. "For the national team, he hasn't had a lot of playing time, he perhaps did not find himself in the best conditions.
"I'm not going to compare him to [Dayot] Upamecano but at Arsenal, he doesn't ask himself the question whether he's going to be playing or not, here he's not one of the first choices. He isn't in the same psychological situation with his club. When he has playing time with us, he must say to himself: 'I have to perform well', because there are others behind him. He is not in a psychological situation that is the same as at his club.
"We are talking about a young player. At Arsenal, he is fulfilled and efficient. There are a lot of players in this position. Maybe he has a little more confidence. He has everything he needs to get through this stage."
Saliba is among the first names on the team sheet for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who began the campaign by lining him up alongside Ben White before restoring Gabriel Magalhaes to the starting lineup.
With the versatile Jurrien Timber sidelined through injury, the only other natural centre-back on the books at Arsenal is Polish international Jakub Kiwior, who is being considered for a possible loan exit after making just 11 Premier League appearances since his move to the Emirates in January.
By contrast, Deschamps has no shortage of centre-backs available to him. Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano is a regular starter and the boss can also choose between Barcelona's Jules Kounde, Bayern's Benjamin Pavard, Chelsea's Axel Disasi, Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo and versatile Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez, all of whom provide immense competition for Saliba.
Saliba will hope to see some minutes in Saturday's Euro 2024 qualifier with Gibraltar or the trip to Greece next Tuesday.
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