William Saliba wants to follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira by winning the World Cup and becoming an Arsenal legend.
Gunners defender Saliba, 21, was called up by France for their 26 man squad for Qatar as they are one of the pre-tournament favourites to lift the trophy. France boss Didier Deschamps has world class talent with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema while Saliba is seen as a big star of the future and their centre half for the next decade.
Former Arsenal heroes Henry, Vieira and Robert Pires enjoyed glory with the great France team which won the 1998 trophy before also winning the Euros in 2000. Now Saliba wants to follow their example and help France retain the trophy they won four years ago and extend Arsenal’s French connection.
Saliba said: “Yeah, of course. I want to be the next Frenchmen to do that, like Pires or Vieira or Henry. We will see. If I am going to the World Cup it shows I have had a good start to the season with Arsenal. I have to keep going like this.
“I wanted to be in it, but you know in France we have a lot of good defenders so that is why I am so happy. If I am in the squad it’s because I had a good start to the season with Arsenal. I am so happy and grateful to be in this squad.”
Saliba revealed that he was told an hour before the squad was announce but had to keep the news to himself and then could not celebrate as Arsenal lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup. “Some people told me just one hour before, but I waited for the coach [to say I was in the squad]. So when the coach told the media I was so happy. It was just before the game. I was so happy,” said Saliba.
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“When he (Deschamps) spoke on the TV we were in the warm-up. So when I came back I watched it a little bit on my phone and I saw my name. I was so happy. It is amazing. I don’t think I can imagine what is the World Cup now, but I will imagine it later.”
Saliba has been outstanding for Arsenal this season and that is why he has got the nod for France. He has been consistent and formed a big partnership with Gabriel in central defence. But Saliba insists that his big target before going to Qatar is to win at Wolves on Saturday to ensure Arsenal stay top of the table for Christmas.
He added: “It’s important because we have just one game left, like this, some players can go on holidays good and us go to the World Cup with good mentality.
“I have to be focused on the last game with Arsenal. To push to win and then after this game I will be focused 100 per cent with the national team.’
“I think the energy is different and the mentality is different. This dressing room this year is amazing, I think we have to keep going like this. To try to win something this year.
“Gabriel is a good partner, a very good player but so is every defender in this team. We are so close. That’s why we start well and we haven’t conceded a lot of goals in the league. So it’s good because we are all friends, we are all together.”
