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Arsenal held firm to battle their way into the final four of the Champions League and set up a clash with Atletico Madrid.
In what could be the battle of defensive minds, the Gunners will meet Diego Simeone’s side as they attempt to book their place in the final.
The clash against Sporting Lisbon tonight wasn’t exactly nervy but it wasn’t overly comfortable either.
To win the Champions League, Arsenal will need all their best players fulfilling their potential but according to Chris Sutton, one star man is not looking the same.
Simple question: How do Arsenal win the Champions League from here?
Through to the semi-finals, but the performance was not good enough…
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Chris Sutton claims William Saliba is not as good as he once was
Any Arsenal fan will tell you how good William Saliba has been since he got his big chance under Mikel Arteta.
The French international has been the heartbeat of the defence and once again tonight, he ensured Sporting couldn’t get that crucial goal.
However, Chris Sutton believes Saliba has not looked the same.
“William Saliba, since he got into the team, he has been a rock at the back, but he does not look the player he once was,” Sutton commented for the BBC.
“In the final third Arsenal were massively disappointing. On the odd occasion, Noni Madueke has not been confident enough to go around Maxi Araujo. Martinelli has had one or two crosses, but it is more to do with their combination play. It should be like clockwork.”
William Saliba criticism is harsh
It’s a fair enough point this from Sutton in that, yes, Saliba hasn’t quite looked the rock he once was.
However, Arsenal needed to just not concede tonight and they did just that, with Saliba once again crucial in preventing Sporting doing anything of note.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Saliba has been and continues to be Arsenal’s best defender and while the partnership with Gabriel is brilliant, it is the Frenchman who oozes class.
At the end of the day, Arsenal and Saliba got the job done tonight and another clean-sheet sees the Gunners into the semi-final.
As they say in football, it’s job done.
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