Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sets William Saliba challenge as Gabriel admission made

William Saliba has been in impressive form once again for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal defender William Saliba can get even better - despite already being one of the best centre-backs in world football.

The colossal Frenchman, who has marshalled the Premier League leaders to back-to-back clean sheets, is striving to oversee a second shutout of Manchester United this season having also scored in this very fixture last term.

When asked if there is even more to come from Saliba, defiant boss Arteta replied: "So much! In every area I look at him, there is growth and potential there and he really wants it. I think he will go to different levels in the next few years."

Arteta has challenged the 24-year-old to not only sharpen his defensive tools - but also mirror Gabriel Magalhaes ' goalscoring exploits, too.

Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, when Saliba first partnered the Brazilian at the heart of Arsenal's defence, Gabriel has mustered an impressive 16 goals at club level.

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Meanwhile, Saliba has managed a mere seven and he's also yet to have found the target this season despite Arsenal's set-piece expertise.

Gabriel has scored four goals despite missing 10 matches with a thigh issue. When asked how the France international can improve his game, Arteta explained: "First of all in the boxes.

"In both boxes he can be much better still. Then everything that goes from box to box, in his leadership, the way he commands the line, the way he makes a judgement.

"There is a lot but with Gabi they have found a great partnership and he can form other partnerships as well."

If Arsenal were to reign supreme against United, they would become the first side in 46 years - when West Brom achieved the feat - to win five successive home fixtures against them.

Arteta’s troops are also unbeaten in six Premier League games against the Red Devils, who they pipped 1-0 on the opening day of the campaign at Old Trafford courtesy of Riccardo Calafiori's winner.