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Thierry Henry agrees with Kylian Mbappe and William Saliba on best in the Premier League claim
Thierry Henry has labelled William Saliba as the best centre-back in the Premier League - days after the Arsenal defender rated himself among the top three.
Saliba, 23, has been outstanding for the Gunners over the past two years since returning from a very productive loan spell in France with Marseille. He was named in the Premier League Team of the Year during the 2023/24 campaign, having impressed up until suffering a season-ending back problem.
After returning to full fitness, Saliba became the first Arsenal player to feature in every minute (3,420) of a season for the club in the Premier League era. He contributed to the Gunners having the best defensive record in the Premier League, keeping 18 clean sheets and conceding just 29 goals in 38 games.
While discussing Premier League players competing at Euro 2024, Henry told the Premier League’s official YouTube channel: "You go to any town in and around Paris and you will find players.
"It’s a state of mind, it’s a way of living. When you’re in a one-vs-one with him [Saliba], you’re like, 'Okay, you’re not going anywhere, big man!' I think this year he was, for me, the best centre-back in the league."
It comes after Saliba himself rated himself among the best in England. In an interview with French publication L’Equipe, he said: "I think I am in the top three [defenders in the Premier League].
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"We finished with the best defence. I watch a lot of matches. I am a very humble person but last season, just like this season, I am in the top three defenders.
"I need to continue to work to go even higher […] in terms of concentration, I am a lot better. Before, I could play a top match but in one phase of play, I slept a bit. That is no longer the case. I am always on alert."
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe also heaped praise on Saliba earlier this week. The new Real Madrid forward, who went to school with Saliba, said on his France team-mate: "This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
"He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus."
Despite this, Saliba is not expected to start for France in their Euro 2024 opener against Austria, with Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano and Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate set to get the nod instead.
