William Saliba has spoken for the first time about the pain of watching his Arsenal team-mates losing the title to Manchester City last season. The France defender has been a revelation since he took the Premier League by storm at the start of last season.
Signed originally by Arsenal as an 18-year-old in 2019, his development has been a long-term project at the club. He spent loan spells back at St Etienne, then with Nice and Marseille, before he finally broke through to the Gunners’ first team.
Having been given his chance, he never looked back and instantly formed a more formidable-looking centre-back partnership with Gabriel than Arsenal had had in a long time. Indeed, since with Saliba in the side, Arsenal won 50 percent more points per game while when he was missing they have conceded 50 percent more goals.
Which was all well and good until March 16 this year. As the title race was entering the home straight, Arsenal were still five points clear of Manchester City.
They were also beating Sporting Lisbon 1-0 at the Emirates and on their way to the Europa League quarter-finals. Then in the 21st minute he suffered a back injury and was forced to hobble off with what Mikel Arteta described as “some discomfort”. The Arsenal manager thought he would be out for a couple of weeks. As it was, he missed the rest of the season.
Lisbon had already levelled the tie before winning on penalties. Then there was nothing Saliba could do as Arsenal were hauled in by City and beaten to the Premier League with three games to spare. “Of course it was really painful because I watched my team play every game, the most important of the season, and I was not able to play,” Saliba said. “Of course it hurt me. Of course I could have helped my team to maybe win the Premier League but we never know.
“It was a good experience because we were first for all the season and at the end we finished second. Every game is so important, we try to win every game to win the league. Injuries are part of football and hopefully I won’t be injured.”
Touch wood, he had a clean bill of health this season and his understanding has continued to improve with Gabriel, a Brazil international signed from Lille, on his left and England international Ben White outside him.
“They are so good, it’s easy to play with them,” Saliba said. “It gives me confidence. They understand how we have to play so it’s easy for me and I can communicate with Gabriel in French. And of course I am happy to play with them because they are really good defenders.”
