Saliba says he was focused on staying at Arsenal after signing new deal

William Saliba said helium ever had his bosom acceptable connected staying with Arsenal aft ending speculation implicit his aboriginal by signing a caller semipermanent declaration connected Tuesday.

The France defender has enactment pen to insubstantial connected a reported five-year deal, which volition support him astatine the Premier League nine until 2030.

Saliba, whose erstwhile declaration was owed to tally until 2027, extended his enactment astatine the Emirates Stadium contempt reports of involvement from Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old is the latest subordinate to perpetrate his aboriginal to the Gunners pursuing caller deals for chap centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

“I knew that I wanted to enactment present for much years truthful I was not truly focused connected different clubs,” helium told reporters connected the eve of Arsenal’s Champions League lucifer against Olympiakos.

“So I’m blessed to beryllium present and motion a caller woody to absorption connected my club.”

The centre-back joined the Gunners successful 2019 but had 3 indebtedness spells earlier establishing himself arsenic a regular successful Mikel Arteta’s squad during the 2022/23 season.

Since past helium has been astatine the bosom of an Arsenal broadside that has finished 2nd successful each of the past 3 seasons successful the Premier League.

“Of people sometimes you person immoderate doubts, you accidental ‘Yeah possibly I volition ne'er play for this club’ but astatine the extremity I told myself that I cannot permission this nine without playing and I didn’t springiness up,” Saliba said.

“I went connected loan, I played games, I came backmost present and I started astir each crippled truthful yea I’m truthful arrogant of myself.”

Arteta said helium was delighted that the “phenomenal” Saliba had joined others successful committing their futures to the club.

“They consciousness that they beryllium to this club, they consciousness precise attached to it and they stock the aforesaid ambition with the club,” helium said.

“Obviously they consciousness valued, they consciousness loved present and they privation to proceed their careers here, which is great.”

The Arsenal brag said determination had been “great energy” successful the squad since his team’s melodramatic 2-1 triumph astatine Newcastle connected Sunday, which lifted them conscionable 2 points down Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The Gunners are looking for a 2nd consecutive triumph successful the league signifier of the Champions League aft beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 successful their opening match.

The station Saliba says helium was focused connected staying astatine Arsenal aft signing caller deal appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.