Arsenal defender William Saliba - Monaco
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal defender William Saliba has spoken out against the English media’s characterization of France’s Ligue 1 as a “Farmer’s League,” following the Gunners’ commanding 3-0 victory over AS Monaco in the Champions League.
Saliba, a product of French football with stints at Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille, was a key figure in Arsenal’s defensive masterclass at the Emirates. Goals from Bukayo Saka, who scored a brace, and substitute Kai Havertz secured a fourth win in six Champions League matches, leaving Arsenal on the brink of qualification for the knockout stage.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Arsenal faced nervy moments, particularly in the second half, as Monaco threatened to punish the hosts’ wastefulness in front of goal. Thilo Kehrer and Breel Embolo squandered golden opportunities to equalise before the Gunners sealed the victory in the closing stages.
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Monaco, along with fellow Ligue 1 sides Brest and PSG, remain in contention for progression, with the latter reinvigorating their campaign after a 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. Saliba, who closely follows the French teams, voiced his support for their efforts and hopes to see all three advance.
William Saliba against AS Monaco
William Saliba against AS Monaco in the Champions League (Image credit: Getty Images)
“I’m happy,” Saliba told Canal+. “I saw Brest yesterday, Paris too, and I saw that Lille won today. It feels good because there are some who don’t respect us. Even here in England, there are still some who talk about the ‘Farmer’s League.’
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“I hope they all qualify. I’m giving them very good publicity. All the French teams can qualify, and I hope they continue.”
For Arsenal, the victory highlighted their resurgence as a credible force in Europe’s elite competition after years of absence during the reigns of Arsène Wenger, Unai Emery, and Mikel Arteta.
“We are enjoying our run and keep learning,” Arteta said post-match. “There’s a lot to take from this game, from the experience, and we need much more.
“We need to go through certain moments, and I’m sure we will in the near future. The fact that we can compete against any team is a positive thing to take, but we need to understand how difficult it is to do so consistently in this competition.”
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