William Saliba opens up about Mikel Arteta’s mind games

Arsenal’s rising star, William Saliba, recently shared an intriguing insight into his journey at the club and how manager Mikel Arteta gauged his character during pre-season last year.

The 22-year-old French defender played a crucial role in Arsenal’s title challenge last season until a season-ending back injury in March coincided with a dip in the club’s form.

Saliba’s path to the Arsenal first team was anything but straightforward, having been signed as a promising teenager for a substantial fee of £27 million. The young talent had to endure three loan spells and a lengthy 1,107-day wait to finally make his senior debut for the Gunners.

During last year’s pre-season, William Saliba was reintegrated into Arsenal’s first team, but his future under Arteta remained uncertain. Upon reporting for training, the Frenchman was met with near-silence from his manager, who refrained from exchanging a word with him for an entire week.

This unique approach was Arteta‘s way of assessing Saliba’s character and how he would respond to the situation.

Recalling the unusual experience, Saliba shared,

“I was so excited to do a pre-season with the team and to try to play in the Premier League and the Europa League. He said hello to me the first day and then after he didn’t speak with me.”

Despite the initial silence from Arteta, Saliba remained determined to prove himself on the pitch and showcase his readiness to contribute to the team.

“I told myself to be good on the pitch, to give him a solution, to tell him: ‘Yeah, I’m ready.’ To tell him on the pitch is the better way… I knew one day he’ll come to speak to me,” the young defender explained.

Saliba’s perseverance and talent ultimately paid off, as he went on to become a cornerstone of Arsenal’s backline, impressing with his solid performances. His remarkable contributions on the field were recently recognized with a well-deserved four-year contract extension.

Looking ahead to the future with Arsenal, Saliba expressed his excitement and optimism, stating,

“I’m looking forward to the future with this club. The future will be good for everyone, I hope. It won’t be easy, but we will work hard for this, and I know the club will be back at the very, very top. We have to do everything to win every title possible.”

The renewed contract signifies Arsenal’s commitment to nurturing and retaining promising talents like William Saliba, as they strive to regain their former glory and challenge for top honors in domestic and European competitions.

With Arteta’s unique approach serving as a testament to his belief in the potential of young players, fans are eagerly anticipating the bright future that lies ahead for William Saliba and the Gunners.