Mikel Arteta: William Saliba deal further proof Arsenal stars see success coming
William Saliba became the last star of the Gunners to sign a new long -term agreement, despite the interest of Real Madrid.
The previous French defender’s previous contract was to expire in 2027 and the AP news agency includes that he has now extended his stay until 2030.
“This is great news, I am very happy and congratulations to William,” said the boss of the Gunners Arteta.
“He fully deserves his new contract, he has been phenomenal in recent years and we are very happy to keep the spine of the team with us.
“First of all, it shows that they belong to this club and that they share the same ambition as the club and want to continue their career here.”
Saliba moved to Arsenal de St Etienne in July 2019, initially put time on loan in France and made 140 appearances in all competitions.
He has now joined the half-center Gabriel Magalhaes and the very classified young Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the signing of new contracts this year.
The 24 -year -old said: “I am so happy to sign the new agreement with my club. I have to continue like this to try to win trophies.
“I think the only thing we are missing here is to win trophies. We have a good team, a good staff and a good coach, so we are about to do things.
“I did not focus on the outside clubs, right here. I want to stay here and I focus on my club. ”
After starting their Champions League campaign with a victory over the Athletic Bilbao, Arsenal takes Olympiacos Greek champions at the Emirates Stadium.
It will be their first home champions draw at home since the defeat in the semi-finals of the possible winners Paris St Germain in April.
Captain Martin Odegaard is able to start after missing the draw against Manchester City with a shoulder injury.
The midfielder came out of the bench in Newcastle on Sunday and helped change the game while the Gunners won a 2-1 dramatic victory.
“It was very good and immediately, you could see the desire and the responsibility to change things and he helped us win the game,” added Arteta.
“After the match, there was great energy, everyone celebrated because of the way it happened, but we have to move forward very quickly.
“We have the same ambition to pass the game per game and try to be better than the opponent. We have a very difficult tomorrow.”
Arteta knows too well that he is facing a difficult match – because he was trained by the boss of Olympiacos Jose Luis Mendilibar in Athletic Bilbao when he was only 14 years old.
Mendibar, now 64, said: “I am very grateful. He knows that I love him because I was his coach when he was just a child. So thank you very much.”