Saliba’s long road to the top ends with Premier League glory but Arsenal defender wants more
Saliba’s long road to the top ends with Premier League glory but Arsenal defender wants more William Saliba admits Arsenal’s Premier League triumph has made all the struggles of his early years at the club worthwhile as he prepares for the biggest game of his career in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. The France defender has become one of the best centre-backs in world football after a remarkable rise under Mikel Arteta, forming the foundation of Arsenal’s title-winning side and helping guide them to their first Champions League final in 22 years. Yet Saliba’s path to the top has been anything but straightforward.
Signed by Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 as one of Europe’s brightest young defenders, Saliba spent several years out on loan in France and admitted there were moments where life in north London was far from easy. “It has been a long journey, up and down, but now I am so happy,” Saliba reflected. “I was not always happy when I was on loan and not playing but it is part of the process.
“I kept working hard and I believed I could make it, and for four years I have started for Arsenal and I finished the season with a Premier League, and we have something even bigger next week. ” That “something bigger” is next Saturday’s Champions League final against PSG, where Saliba will come up against several of his France team-mates in a tie he admits carries extra significance. “It’s always special because it’s a final and we’re playing against a French club that beat us last season,” he said.
“So, it’s going to be special and I hope we’re going to win. ” Saliba has been central to Arsenal’s transformation from nearly-men into champions. After finishing second for three consecutive seasons, Arteta’s side finally got over the line this year, and the 24-year-old says the squad never lost belief despite repeated disappointment.
“Now we are champions,” he said. “Last season we finished second but even when we finished second, we had the good mentality the season after to keep going and it finally paid off. “We didn’t give up, we deserve that title, and we will come back again next season to try and win as well.