He is the best by a mile — Arsenal legend Thierry Henry names Premier League's best defender

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has emphatically declared William Saliba as the standout defender in the Premier League right now, asserting that Saliba's performances place him head and shoulders above his peers. 

The young talent has swiftly become a pivotal presence for the Gunners since his debut last season and continues to see his stock rise.

"Right now I think Saliba is [the best defender], by a mile,” Henry told Amazon Prime Sport.

“The way he can defend a 1 vs 1, the way he allows Arsenal to stay higher [up the pitch] and defend the 45-50 yards behind him is second to none. 

“His speed, the way he recovers, and when he recovers the ball he doesn’t just kick it into the stands – he tries to get it back [to his teammates] which is important.

 “But he went on loan and he came back and he showed everybody that that was a mistake and now he is now the best defender in the league.”