“We lost the Premier League because of you”: Arsenal star discloses Mikel Arteta told him he was ‘too gentle’ during training.
William Saliba has revealed the challenges he faced to gain the trust of Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta. Saliba, who was often criticized by Arteta for being too “soft” during training, had to work hard to meet his manager’s expectations. Having joined Arsenal from St-Etienne five years ago for a significant £27 million, Saliba initially struggled to secure a spot in the first team and spent two seasons on loan back in France before proving himself to Arteta.
Now 23, Saliba has become a crucial player for Arsenal, significantly contributing to their recent Premier League campaigns where they have been strong contenders against Manchester City. He is also set to play a key role for his national team in the forthcoming European Championship.
Reflecting on his Arsenal journey, Saliba expressed his respect for Arteta and acknowledged the rigorous guidance he received from the Spanish coach. In an interview with L’Equipe, Saliba stated, “He taught me to have a good attitude. Sometimes he thought I was a little soft in training, so he asked me to be meaner. He wants the players to be scared when they see me. He took me to another level. He is one of the best coaches in the world. He looks at all the details and hates defeat. We work on each match differently.”
Looking ahead to the European Championship and beyond, Arsenal is determined to continue their pursuit of their first league title in over two decades, having narrowly missed out in the previous season. Saliba acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City but believes the team is progressing well.
“We know even more today that Manchester City can make mistakes, but that from February and March, they don’t miss anymore,” Saliba commented. “We played against them three times, we put them in difficulty. They feel and we feel that we are close to them. Next year, we’re going to have an even better war.”
