William Saliba has admitted that Arsenal don’t deserve to be at the top of the Premier League this season. The Gunners currently sit 15 points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, as their title challenge has been derailed by injuries and inconsistent performances. With just 10 matches remaining, Saliba believes the gap to Liverpool is a fair reflection of the season so far.
“If they are first, it’s because they did something we didn’t do,” Saliba said. “Of course, there’s a big gap, but we have to keep going. They are so good as well. I think this season we don’t deserve to be at the top, but we have to keep going and there’s Champions League as well, so we will push.”
Injuries to key attackers have taken a toll on Arsenal’s campaign. Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have both missed stretches of games, while Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury has further reduced Mikel Arteta’s options. As a result, Arsenal have lost three league games and drawn 10, allowing Liverpool and Manchester City to pull away in the title race.
Despite the disappointment in the league, Arsenal’s Champions League run offers hope of ending the season with silverware. They hold a commanding 7-1 lead on aggregate against PSV Eindhoven heading into the second leg of their last-16 tie, and Saliba insists the squad believes they can go all the way.
“If we don’t believe or dream to win the Champions League, there’s no point to play,” he said. “We are here, and this season with the new format it was not easy to be qualified. Now we’ve won the first game [against PSV], tomorrow we’ve got a good chance to win a game and to be qualified.”
Looking ahead, Arsenal could face either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, both of whom pose a significant challenge. But Saliba remains confident that Arsenal can compete with Europe’s best and make a deep run in the competition.
“After, there is four games before the final. We can do it, we all believe that we can do it. We have to work and pray as well,” he said.
For Arsenal fans, the Champions League has long been a source of heartbreak, with the club never lifting the trophy despite reaching the final in 2006. But Saliba’s words reflect the renewed optimism within the squad, even amid domestic struggles.
“We are sad when we don’t win a trophy, but we have to keep believing because we are here. We won the first game last week and if we win or draw, we are in the quarter-final, then anything can happen,” he added. “We have to believe in ourselves and everyone thinks we can do it.”
With the Premier League title slipping out of reach, Arsenal’s European campaign now carries even greater importance. And with Saliba and the squad fully invested in the dream, they’ll be hoping this season ends with a historic night in Wembley.
