William Saliba has admitted that Arsenal don’t deserve to be at the top of the Premier League this season. With just 10 matches remaining, the Gunners sit 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, and Saliba believes the gap is a fair reflection of their campaign.
Injuries and inconsistent performances have derailed their title challenge, with key attackers such as Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka missing significant time, while Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury further depleted Mikel Arteta’s options. Arsenal have lost three league games and drawn 10, allowing rivals Liverpool and Manchester City to pull away in the title race. Despite the disappointment in the league, Saliba remains focused on Arsenal’s remaining goals. “If they are first, it’s because they did something we didn’t do,” Saliba said.
“Of course, there’s a big gap, but we have to keep going. They are so good as well. I think this season we don’t deserve to be at the top, but we have to keep going and there’s Champions League as well, so we will push.”
While the Premier League title may be slipping out of reach, the Champions League remains a bright spot for Arsenal. They hold a commanding 7-1 lead on aggregate over PSV Eindhoven heading into the second leg of their last-16 tie, and Saliba is optimistic about their chances of going all the way. “If we don’t believe or dream to win the Champions League, there’s no point to play,” he said. “We are here, and this season with the new format it was not easy to be qualified. Now we’ve won the first game, and tomorrow we’ve got a good chance to win a game and to be qualified.”
Looking ahead, Arsenal could face either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but Saliba remains confident that they can compete with Europe’s best. “After, there are four games before the final. We can do it, we all believe that we can do it. We have to work and pray as well,” he said.
Arsenal fans have long suffered heartbreak in the Champions League, with the club reaching the final in 2006 but never lifting the trophy. However, Saliba’s belief in the squad is a sign of renewed optimism. “We are sad when we don’t win a trophy, but we have to keep believing because we are here. We won the first game last week, and if we win or draw, we are in the quarter-finals, then anything can happen,” he said. “We have to believe in ourselves, and everyone thinks we can do it.”
With the Premier League title slipping away, Arsenal’s focus now shifts to their European campaign, which carries even greater importance. If Saliba and the squad can continue to believe and perform, a historic night in Wembley may be on the horizon.