Thierry Henry questions William Saliba’s defending in Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to RC Lens
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has questioned William Saliba’s defending in the Gunners’ Champions League defeat to RC Lens. The Gunners took the lead early on Wednesday night through Gabriel Jesus but fell to their first defeat of the season after goals from Adrien Thomasson and Elye Wahi sealed a 2-1 win.
In another blow, Mikel Arteta saw Bukayo Saka forced off injured with Manchester City visiting the Emirates on Sunday.
Wahi troubled the Arsenal back line throughout the evening, providing the knockdown for Thomasson’s superb equaliser 11 minutes after Jesus’ opener. The 20-year-old swept home a precise winner 20 minutes with full-time. Arsenal legend Henry was full of praise for Wahi’s movement, finding room between defenders to beat David Raya.
Henry Criticizes Saliba
But the former France international was not impressed with Saliba’s efforts, accusing the defender of failing to track the Lens striker into the box.
‘Elye, he is special when it comes to that (finishing),’ Henry told CBS Sports.
‘First and foremost let’s talk about how he stayed away from Saliba. You see you don’t need to go and break your neck, Saliba will beat you to the first ball stay in a good position between the two lines and Wahi does that, he can finish so well.
‘Can we talk about Saliba? The space never scores a goal. Can you have a look at where your striker is? He never looked at where his No.9 is.
‘Only the No.9 can score there. He never looks to see what Wahi does, he never looks! He never looks! You have to check your shoulder.’
Arsenal Look Ahead To City
Arsenal’s focus now shifts to City on Sunday with Arteta facing a nervous wait to learn whether Saka will be available. The 22-year-old has now failed to finish his last three matches after pulling up clutching his thigh and coming off after just 34 minutes on Tuesday.
‘It was an action, a backheel, and he felt something in this specific action. It was nothing else. Obviously he wasn’t comfortable to continue.’
Conclusion
Arsenal will be hoping that Saka is fit enough to face City on Sunday as they look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. Thierry Henry has questioned William Saliba’s defending in the match and it will be interesting to see if Arteta takes any action in response.