Arsenal have so far faced the fewest shots on target in the Premier League this season (77), conceded the fewest goals (24) and kept the most clean sheets (12).

A cornerstone in that defense in William Saliba, who nevertheless finds himself lacking playing time with the French national team.

France coach Didier Deschamps offered an opinion on Saliba following the latest batch of internationals.

"Saliba is playing a good season (with Arsenal). But I see him alternating things which I like a bit less. With the French national team, he gets less playing time. When he has got some, it hasn't always gone well. I'm aware that I put him in a context that wasn't always easy. The current pecking order doesn't favour him," Deschamps stated - something which is baffling to most observers of the Premier League and baffling to former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn.

“The way you see him play in the Premier League, which I think is the most intense league we have, I find it difficult to understand why he's being given a chance. The manager may have his reasons. And at the end of the day, you have to respect that.

“Sometimes managers prefer one partnership over another and if you are a supporter of the player missing out, then sometimes you find it very, very difficult to understand," says Winterburn, who won two caps with England while at Arsenal. William Saliba so far has 13 for France.

- Nigel Winterburn was talking to Tribalfootball on behalf of www.newbettingsites.uk.