William Saliba says it was an easy decision to sign a new contract at Arsenal as he targets winning trophies with the club.
The Frenchman has signed a new four-year contract with the Gunners worth around £190,000-a-week.
Saliba’s previous deal was due to expire in a year’s time and he had no hesitation about signing a new one.
The 22-year-old has been made to feel at home at Arsenal and is targeting winning major honours with them.
“Well, honestly the decision was easy because I had a really good season last season and unfortunately I didn't finish because of the injury,” said Saliba. “So I want more. I want to play more years for this amazing club. I want to win everything with this club.
“I'm so excited to extend my contract. I'm so happy and I want to thank everyone in the club. I spoke with the coach, with Edu, with my agent, but it was an easy decision to extend my contract and that’s it.
“I think we can achieve everything. Of course, it's easy to say this, but we have the coach, we have the character, we have the players and every year the team gets stronger. We have better players with a good mentality.
“We have a good experience from the last season as well. We know that the season is so long. So we are confident and we know we can do something good at this club.”
Saliba excelled for Arsenal last season and played a pivotal role for them as they fought Manchester City for the Premier League.
The centre-back injured his back in March, though, and without him the Gunners’ title charge faded.
“Honestly, it was so, so, so hard to let my team play without me,” said Saliba. “Football is like this but it was really, really hard to not help my team in these moments. It was very hard because it was the last two months.
“It’s the moment when every game is so important. It was really, really hard, but you know when you have an injury, you have to learn and come back stronger. And now I can't wait to play again.
“I had a little break and after I went to Marbella to do my rehab with the staff. It was good but of course I was waiting for the pre-season.
“I'm so, so, so hungry because I didn't play for four months and I didn't help my team. So I hope I won't have an injury this season, I want to be here all this season with the team. I'm so, so hungry to play on. I can't wait to be on the pitch.”
Saliba has been at Arsenal since 2019 when he signed from Saint-Etienne for a fee of £27million. The centre-back, however, then spent the next three seasons out on loan.
He has admitted that was tough, but it has only made breaking into the first team now even more rewarding.
“It was long because I was on loan the first year and then I came here, I didn't play for six months and then I was on loan for one and a half years,” said Saliba. “It's good sometimes to learn like this. I didn't play when I [first] came, so I learned a lot. I became a new man.
“It's important for the mentality and then I came back stronger last summer and I knew I would have a chance if I play well. I had the confidence of the coach and all the players, so it's easy for me. But yeah, it's a good experience because if it would have been easy, maybe I would not be happy as I am today.”
