Arsenal starlet William Saliba clashed with Mbaye Diagne during Marseille's Europa League clash against Galatasaray.
Saliba enjoyed a solid display for Les Olympiens, shutting out the Turkish giants whilst looking composed in the build-up phase during the 0-0 draw.
The match had been halted as flares were thrown by both sets of fans, causing police to use tear gas in the stands before the game eventually got back underway.
The French centre-half then showcased his exceptional strength during a last-minute tussle with Diagne, muscling the Senegalese international off the ball before shepherding the ball out of play for a throw-in.
However, his opponent was clearly frustrated and the two eventually squared up to each other before both sets of teammates ran over to separate them.
It is not the first time that the Arsenal loanee has delivered a classy defensive display for Marseille this season.
In fact, the 20-year-old has already kept three clean sheets for the Ligue 1 outfit this term, impressing head coach Jorge Sampaoli.
As quoted by RMC Sport, via Caughtoffside, Sampaoli said: “He’s a top player at his position. We were lucky to get him on loan, it wasn’t simple.
“He’s great at marking, but good bringing the ball out too. He’s a future great of French football, he’s very good at starting plays.”
Saliba is still yet to make his first-team debut for Arsenal, having previously enjoyed loan stints with Nice and Saint Etienne following his £28million transfer from the latter in the summer of 2019.
The talented centre-back will hope that his impressive performances can catch the eye of Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta, who will be closely monitoring his progress over the coming months.
