William Saliba has delivered a passionate rallying cry to his Arsenal teammates, insisting they must be prepared to 'die on the pitch' if they are to end the club's 22-year wait for the Premier League title. The Gunners are locked in a fierce battle with Manchester City at the top of the table, and Saliba believes only total commitment will secure glory.
Saliba's Call for Total Commitment
The French defender, who has been a rock at the heart of Arsenal's defence, spoke candidly about the need for focus and sacrifice. 'I think we need to be calm. We need to die on the pitch as well, because it's now. Now we have to go, and we need everyone: the supporters, the team, the staff, everyone, because we have to do it now. After that, it's too late,' Saliba told the club's website.
He added: 'When the season is finished, it's too late; you have to start the next season. It's now. You have to give everything and die on the pitch.'
Recent Form and Determination
Arsenal have won only one of their last six matches across all competitions, including a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Manchester City last Sunday. However, Saliba remains confident that the team can bounce back. 'Last game we wanted to win, and we didn't. But it's not finished. Now we know what we have coming, and we know what we have to do if we want to win the league. We have to start on Saturday,' he said.
The Gunners have not tasted Premier League success since March 14, when late goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman secured a victory over Everton. Saliba is determined to end a run of three consecutive second-place finishes and bring the title back to north London.
Personal Motivation
The 25-year-old centre-back, who committed his long-term future to Arsenal earlier this season, admitted that the title race keeps him awake at night. 'When you're close to achieving your dreams, sometimes when you sleep, you think about that. We have the Champions League, Premier League, so of course you cannot think about something else,' he said.
He continued: 'We haven't won the Premier League since 2004. It's been a while. It means a lot for us and for me personally. I've been here for four years and I've always finished second. If we change that this season, it will be a massive success for us and for me. I'm sure we will do that.'
Team News
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are both available for selection after recovering from recent injuries, providing a timely boost ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
