Morning all.
Reading something from William Saliba is a rare thing but an interview with our French defender has popped up on Arsenal’s official website.
We all want to achieve something. Winning this Premier League is not easy, but when you finish twice second, you want to win. We will give everything, even more than last season, because we don’t want to finish second, third or fourth. We want to win this league and we’ll give everything.
I still believe that had Saliba not suffered an injury two seasons ago, Arsenal would have won the league. But, that’s football and injuries play a big part in a club’s season and some are much harder to deal with than others. Back then, there was no Jurrien Timber or Riccardo Calafiori to step in and ultimately Saliba’s absence hurt us badly. In some ways, bearing in mind the start Timber has had this season, perhaps we’d have earned those two extra points we needed to knock City off their perch. It’s all irrelevant now of course.
How long Martin Odegaard will be missing for is unknown. Unlike in defence, our midfield wasn’t strengthened in the summer, not in the creative department I mean. Ethan Nwaneri is in the squad but I don’t think we’ll see him start against Man City. I think Mikel Arteta will go with the same starting eleven which did well last Sunday.
Back to Saliba:
Last season we didn’t lose against them (City), so I don’t think about revenge like this, but they won the league last season and the season before. It’s more about us because the Premier League is not just against City, it’s against all the teams, so we have to be focused on ourselves because there are a lot of games.
He’s right of course although the football writers would have us all believe that this season’s title race is between Arsenal and City. There are twenty clubs in this league, not just two. I know a few can be written off as far as winning the league goes but they have teams who can beat any other on their day.
As for Saliba and Arsenal going forwards:
I didn’t know exactly if I’d be a key part but I wanted to be where I am. It wasn’t always easy at the beginning, but football is like this. You have to work, sometimes you have bad moments, sometimes you have good moments. You have to stay strong and I didn’t give up. I worked a lot, even when I was on loan, and I’ve been back here for two years and I’m so happy. I’ll keep working to become better.
I still have goals and ambition because I haven’t won anything. I’ve had some good seasons, but you need to win some trophies and that’s what I want to do with Arsenal and the national team.
Long may that remain the case too because he’s a wonderful player who is such a joy to watch. A special talent and still very young in terms of his career. As for the secret behind the partnership he’s formed with Gabriel, he sums it up quite simply by saying:
There’s no secret. I’m good, he’s good. We both speak French and we play now in our third season together. We know each other so well and it’s a pleasure to play every game with him. We grow together because he’s young as well, so it’s really good to have him by my side.
With Ben White and Jurrien Timber either side of them and David Raya behind them, Arsenal look secure at the back for the next few years. Of course there’s more to a great team than just a back five as defending starts at the front but this is about William Saliba. The previous Arsenal board might have got many many things wrong but signing the Frenchman certainly wasn’t one of them.
Catch up in the comments.
Whilst Saliba is majestic in every way, Gabriel is a sheer brick wall who can also score goals!
They compliment each other really well.
Nice to finally have the left back position secured up too.
Can Rice play tomorrow?
Odegaard, at least 3 weeks away.
When is Merino returning?
There’s one more midweek game with Bolton.
Can the women’s team eliminate Hacken in midweek?
Yes Jm. Rice has served his one match suspension.
West Ham manager first to be sacked?
Brentford 1 up 🙂
Now 2 – 1 down.
I see ESR has scored again….
Bolton have put four past Reading already….
And Reiss Nelson finishes it off . 3 – 1 Fulham v Newcastle.
Oh great…
Did Nketiah score again too or has he not played yet this weekend…
Taken off after about an hour but did look lively and had a good run and shot in the 10 minutes I saw. Incidentally Hein kept a clean sheet against Real Sociedad today.
We simply cannot afford to lose today, offer me a 0-0 and I’ll snatch your hand off, offer me a 1-0 to the Gunners and I’ll snatch your leg off.
Rico, I watched a bit of the Bolton game, they’re big, physical but technically very average which says a lot about Reading and yes Reading were very very poor
Morning Rico and all,
ESR looks at home and happy playing for Fulham.
Fulham is a home from home for ex-Arsenal players, Leno in goal, Iwobi and ESR in midfield and Nelson on the wing.
Telegraph Sport headline this morning “Smith Rowe is the beating heart of Fulham”.
If we had kept him he would have walked into Odegaard’s place this afternoon.
Morning Geoff, Cicero and all.
Must admit, I was against selling ESR and always believed we’d regret it. He’s the only player we had who could slot in to Odegaard’s position. I’m glad he’s doing well at Fulham, just wish he was still at Arsenal. And so far, I’ve seen nothing from Sterling which suggests he’s any better than Nelson, 8n fact so far, he’s been awful.
How can you suggest such things about my local club Kev? 🤣
New post up.