William Saliba’s awaited return to the French national team brought forth questions as his performance seemed in stark contrast to his exceptional form with Arsenal.

• William Saliba’s performance for France lacked the assertiveness seen in his Arsenal appearances.
• Tchouaméni shines as the standout player during the match against Germany.
• Randal Kolo Muani, despite having previously shown promise, couldn’t make a significant mark in the game.

William Saliba started for France in their recent friendly against Germany, however, his performance was far from what Arsenal fans have become accustomed to and the French media were not shy in pointing that out.

The spotlight on Saliba

William Saliba, known for his outstanding performances with Arsenal, struggled to match that calibre with the French national side in his first start since September 2022.

In a match which Germany won 2-1 following their fourth minute opener, Saliba was directly involved after being tasked with marking goalscorer Thomas Müller.

Notably, Müller managed to elude the Arsenal defender with a mere two-step shift, catching Saliba off-guard.

Such instances have led some in France to question why Saliba, despite his sterling reputation in the Premier League, doesn’t bring the same dynamism to the Blues’ defence.

Later in the game, Saliba’s hesitance was visible again when he tangled with the Munich player following a cross from the left.

It was a surprising display, considering he was nominated to the Premier League Team of the Season last season, with some critics starting to wonder if his time away from the national team has impacted his ability to perform at the international level.

Other notable performances

While Saliba’s display might have left much to desire, Aurélien Tchouaméni emerged as the star of the match. After impressing against Ireland, he continued his brilliant form against Germany, showcasing his prowess in midfield recoveries and interceptions.

Tchouaméni is clearly stamping his mark on the international stage, proving his worth during this September international break.

Randal Kolo Muani, formerly of Nantes and now with PSG, also had a subdued evening.

Though his World Cup endeavours had previously earned him praise from the likes of Antoine Griezmann, he struggled to find his footing in this match. Despite moments where his agility shone through, Muani couldn’t capitalise fully on the opportunities.

Overall team performance

The match saw a varied performance across the board for the French.

Players such as Tchouaméni and Coman stood out, but others like Pavard and Saliba left room for improvement.

For many fans, the hope is that this is merely a blip and that stalwarts like Saliba can find their form and bring their club excellence to the international stage.