William Saliba has set the tone for the new campaign, insisting that after three straight seasons as runners-up, only winning the Premier League will do.
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE: William Saliba of Arsenal is challenged by Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and AC Milan at National Stadium on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
William Saliba has made it clear that Arsenal’s squad can no longer settle for near misses.
After three consecutive seasons finishing as runners-up, the France international says only the Premier League title will satisfy him and his team-mates.
“Of course we’ve finished second for three years in a row, and we know that we always miss something,” Saliba said.
“Now it’s a new season, we have to see what we didn’t do well enough to win the league. We won the first game and of course we want to win the league, and we will give everything.
“We have to try to be even better than the last three seasons to win this league.”
Speaking at the PFA Awards in Manchester, Saliba pointed to the arrivals in Mikel Arteta’s squad as decisive. “We know the new players who came to help us, and I’m sure they will help us win some trophies.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Viktor Gyökeres of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
“Of course we are already better with them. Let’s see.”
Arsenal’s season began with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, Riccardo Calafiori’s debut goal proving the difference after goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with a corner under pressure from Saliba.
The defender admitted Arsenal were far from their best. “We want to score in any context – set pieces, counter-attack, everything. We have to give everything and we know that we can win every time.
“Of course we knew we didn’t play our best football, but at the end we knew it was the first game at Old Trafford with some new signings from them. They caused us a lot of problems but, at the end, we are happy to win and keep a clean sheet.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Riccardo Calafiori (2L) scored their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Saliba was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for a third successive season, alongside Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes, but insisted personal accolades mean little without collective honours.
“I’m so happy to play every game with him,” Saliba said of Gabriel. “He’s been injured the last few months, now he’s back at his best. We just miss trophies. We play good, we are good, but we miss trophies, and we have to win trophies with Arsenal to be even better.”
For Saliba, individual recognition has value, but the ambition is clear. The 24-year-old does not want another season of falling just short. He wants to win the league.
Related Posts