Arsenal have been put again on the map in the case of males’s awards by none aside from William Saliba.
The France defender was honoured on the The Finest FIFA Soccer Awards in Doha, changing into the primary male Gunner to obtain a trophy because the prize-giving ceremony cut up from the Ballon d’Or in 2016.
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Saliba was chosen within the FIFA FIFPRO Males’s World 11 in an all Premier League and LaLiga affair.
In defence he was joined by Ruben Dias (Manchester Metropolis), Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger (each Actual Madrid) whereas Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) was chosen in purpose.
In midfield had been Rodri (Man Metropolis), Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos (each Actual Madrid), whereas the forwards had been Erling Haaland (Man Metropolis), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Vinicius Junior (Actual Madrid).
Vinicius additionally took dwelling The Finest FIFA Males’s Participant award forward of Rodri, who beat him to the Ballon d’Or in a ceremony Madrid boycotted in response to the consequence.
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As for Saliba, his honour marks a formidable 12 months for membership and nation.
On the Emirates he was a part of one other title problem underneath Mikel Arteta, with Arsenal working Metropolis shut for the second 12 months as they conceded the fewest targets within the division because of Saliba’s management on the again.
For his nation, the 23-year-old performed each minute at Euro 2024, and regardless of being dysfunctional up entrance, they conceded only one purpose in 5 video games earlier than a 2-1 semi-final defeat to eventual champions Spain.
The Paris native was signed by Arsenal in 2019 and after profitable loans again in France he’s since develop into a famous person in north London.
His heroics imply the lads’s workforce now have Finest FIFA illustration, following a formidable run from the ladies’s workforce.
Sari van Veenendaal, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Alessia Russo have all been honoured on the awards, whereas Olivier Giroud acquired the 2017 Puskas Award for his unimaginable scorpion kick in opposition to Crystal Palace.
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The final time an Arsenal males’s participant was talked about within the prize giving elite was in 2006 when Thierry Henry completed third within the Ballon d’Or voting, having completed second behind Juventus’ Pavel Nedved in 2003.
Within the now defunct FIFA World Participant of the Yr, Henry additionally completed second in 2004 and 2003, whereas his previous strike associate Dennis Bergkamp capped off the 1997 podium.
Class clearly recognises class in the case of Arsenal, with Henry calling Saliba the perfect defender within the Premier League in December 2023.
“Proper now, I believe he’s, by a mile,” he mentioned. “The way in which he can defend a one-v-one. The way in which he permits Arsenal to play increased and defend the 45-50 yards behind him is second to none.
“His velocity, the best way he recovers. Take a look at him and the way he turns. He tries to get better the ball when he tackles, to not kick it within the stands. He tries to get it again, which is one thing necessary.”
