William Saliba has pinpointed the exact moment he became convinced Arsenal would capture the Premier League title this season, ending a 22-year wait for domestic glory. The French defender credits a pivotal victory against Everton in March as the turning point that shifted his mindset from hope to certainty.
"I started to feel we could do it in March," Saliba explained. "After the game against Everton, it was clear to me that we would win the league. It was a hard game, and we knew that we would not play in the Premier League until after the international break, so that win was so important."
The Turning Point
The convergence of Arsenal's resilience and Manchester City's slip-up against West Ham on the same weekend proved decisive in Saliba's assessment. The Gunners' ability to grind out difficult results while their rivals faltered demonstrated the championship mentality required to sustain a title challenge over 38 matches. After three consecutive second-place finishes, Arsenal's squad possessed the mental fortitude to overcome setbacks, including a later loss to City itself.
"When we came back from the national team, it was a bit hard. But we kept going, we believed in ourselves, even after the loss against City. And now we are champions," Saliba reflected on the team's resilience through the final stretch.
Defence and Champions League Focus
With the Premier League secured, Saliba's attention has shifted to next Saturday's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. The defender highlighted Arsenal's defensive superiority as a key asset heading into Europe's showpiece event. Arsenal's rearguard has been exceptional throughout the campaign, forming the backbone of their title-winning season.
"We have the best defence this season. When you are the best, you want to play the best, so we are so happy to have attackers like this to play against us next Saturday, and I hope we will win that battle," Saliba said with confidence. While acknowledging PSG's status as slight favourites following their Champions League triumph last season, the Arsenal defender believes his team's defensive prowess will prove crucial in determining the outcome of the final.
