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William Saliba has just signed a contract extension at the Emirates and fans are head over heels with the news. Saliba is such an important player in this team, and this extension gives Arsenal undeniable advantage for the coming years.
The French defender has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him in London until 2030. That is brilliant news for all Arsenal fans, as the 24-year-old is now bound to serve some of his peak footballing years with the Gunners. He had solid interest from Real Madrid, who have been given the backseat now.
We all know that Saliba is one of the most important pieces in Mikel Arteta’s setup, and his contribution has been central to whatever this team has achieved so far.
But there is more to achieve, and much more to win. Saliba’s own words after the announcement reflected that ambition.
William Saliba just made his next huge goal at Arsenal abundantly clear
Speaking to the press after the renewal, Saliba said: “I am so happy to sign this new deal with my club. I have to keep going like this to help the club win trophies. The only thing that we miss here is winning trophies. We all believe in the project and the future.”
That is one hell of a target, and it will strike home with Arsenal fans who have been craving silverware for years. Especially because there is little this team has done wrong in recent seasons, yet luck and timing have denied them the ultimate prize.
The most honest thing is to keep trying, and Saliba’s words show that he is ready to fight for medals to his and Arsenal’s name. He added: “I cannot leave this club without giving them something back. We know that we’re always close, always close. Now we know how the Premier League is. We know how the Champions League is. So we have to stop talking and prove on the pitch that we have to win.”
Now that is real talk. Saliba may just have won the hearts of Arsenal fans all over again with those words of commitment and pragmatism.
Six games into the Premier League season, Arsenal have had a solid start. They are still second and must close the gap quickly, or risk a repeat of last year.
And in the Champions League, the only goal must be to win it. Nothing less will suffice after last season’s brilliant run that was cut short in the semifinals. The road to Budapest must be measured and tracked until every obstacle is cleared.
Saliba’s words and ambition are encouraging, but they will hold water only if the entire team and manager match that intent. And there’s little doubt they will. The stage is set.