Arsenal defender William Saliba played through the pain barrier to end the club’s 22-year wait for Premier League title glory before the World Cup with France
Just like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, William Saliba is feeling the effects of Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning season.
So much so that he has already accepted he will have to put his body on the line to fire France to World Cup glory.
Saliba, who is nursing a back problem, explained at Les Bleus’ Boston base: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months. I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well.
“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth. I’m not at 100 percent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 percent either, you cannot make excuses.”
Thankfully for Saliba, there is enough quality at the other end of the field to carry France through.
Captain Kylian Mbappe netted twice, including a stoppage-time stunner, to help down Senegal while Arsenal transfer target Bradley Barcola also notched in New Jersey.
But it wasn’t just the scorers that caught the eye.
The irresistible Michael Olise also sparkled as his stock continues to sky-rocket with every match that passes by.
Real Madrid issued a statement on Saturday clarifying that contrary to reports, they are not in discussions with Olise’s reps over personal terms.
It felt like a desperate bid to preserve their relationship with Bayern Munich with a view to pursuing a future transfer.
Saliba wants Olise to keep both feet firmly on the ground amid comparisons with a series of France legends.
He said: “He’s a star, but he has a lot to accomplish before he can be compared to [Zinedine] Zidane or [Michel] Platini.
“He can do everything on the pitch. I hope he becomes a player like that. He’s world-class; he can dribble, he shoots, and when he needs to shoot, he shoots. When he dribbles, he dribbles—he’s a joy to watch.”
Olise feels beyond Arsenal’s reach but one player that could well join Saliba in north London next season is PSG starlet Barcola.
After winning back-to-back Champions League titles, the ex-Lyon man is at a crossroads in his career.
Both at club and international level, he finds himself on the periphery of the starting XI when the biggest games come calling.
He does, however, look poised to start against Iraq after Desire Doue failed to impress at the MetLife Stadium last Tuesday.
Barcola is on the verge of entering the final two years of his PSG contract.
Despite talks over an extension, there has yet to be progress on fresh terms and Liverpool are also monitoring the 23-year-old’s situation.
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