William Saliba enhanced his reputation with a stunning goal in Arsenal’s superb display at Bournemouth on Saturday.
After a series of loan spells, the Frenchman has belatedly been given his chance to impress at the heart of Arsenal defence and it looks as though he will take some dislodging.
The 21-year-old defender was untroubled in the opening half which he finished able to boast a 100% pass completion rate having also coped well with the physical threat offered by Kieffer Moore.
Arsenal’s dominance was hardly reflected by the two-goal lead they enjoyed as a result of Martin Odegaard’s brace as the fans were able to air a series of new chants with Saliba, in particular, serenaded by the away support.
Bournemouth started the second period in a brighter fashion but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished by Saliba who scored a goal to take the breath away.
Gabriel Martinelli’s deep cross found Xhaka at the far post but there appeared little danger when he laid the ball into Saliba’s path on the edge of the penalty area.
Such is Saliba’s confidence at the moment, however, that the defender whipped the ball across his body with his unfavoured left foot and floated the ball over Mark Travers into the top corner.
Saliba wheeled away in celebration with the conviction of a seasoned goalscorer but his outstanding effort certainly caught Oleksandr Zinchenko by surprise, with the former Man City star caught sinking to his knees, before putting his hands to his head to signify his astonishment.
The reaction of the Ukraine international was spotted buy Arsenal fans with one writing ‘Zinchenko cannot be having it, the Saliba goal was too good!’ while another added ‘Zinchenko’s reaction says it all’.
