New Arsenal Number 2, William Saliba believes Arsenal can achieve everything in the 2023/24 season.
Mikel Arteta’s men are back in the big leagues and will compete in multiple fronts including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and the League Cup.
Having enjoyed a stunning debut campaign for Arsenal last season, Saliba helped the Gunners move inches away from winning the Premier League title and believes the North Londoners are well positioned to go again next season.
Arteta’s team found it difficult to cope when the France international sustained a back injury in March. But the defender said he is now setting his sights much higher, after signing a new four-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2027.
“I’m so, so, so hungry because I didn’t play for four months and I didn’t help my team. So I hope I won’t have an injury this season, I want to be here all this season with the team. I’m so, so hungry to play on. I can’t wait to be on the pitch.”
He added: “I think we can achieve everything. Of course, it’s easy to say this, but we have the coach, we have the character, we have the players and every year the team gets stronger. We have better players with a good mentality. We have a good experience from the last season as well. We know that the season is so long. So we are confident and we know we can do something good at this club.”
Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 from Saint Etienne as an 18-year-old, but was immediately loaned back to the French side. The 22-year-old spent the remaining two years on loan at Nice and Olympic Marseille before returning to the side last season to help the Gunners push for a first Premier League title since 2004.
READ MORE: Why signing William Saliba down to a new contract was so important for Arsenal.
Once he became part of the team, he rarely missed a game until his campaign was cut short in March due to an injury. Before the unfortunate injury against Sporting CP, William Saliba imposed himself as one of the best centre-backs in the World.
Saliba has become a cornerstone in Arsenal’s defense, forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel Magalhães and becoming the fulcrum of the Arsenal defense.
The powerful defender has recovered from the back injury and returns to London Colney ahead of the new season and is itching to get back on the pitch to continue his impressive development in red and white.
He further stated that it was an easy decision to renew his contract because of the season he had. Saliba also believes the loan spells he had in France has contributed to his development as a player.
“Honestly the decision was easy because I had a really good season last season, but unfortunately I didn’t finish it because of injury. So I want more. I want to play more years for this amazing club. I haven’t achieved anything yet, so I want to win everything with this club.”
“It’s good sometimes to learn like this,” he said. “I didn’t play when I [first] came, so I learned a lot. I became a new man. It’s important for the mentality and then I came back stronger last summer and I knew I would have a chance if I play well.
“I had the confidence of the coach and all the players so it was easy for me. But yeah, it’s a good experience because had it been easy, maybe I would not be happy as I am today. The first two years was hard and now I’m happy because I worked hard and I didn’t give up.”
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