William Saliba reveals best advice he’s received from Mikel Arteta

William Saliba has opened up about the one piece of advice he has received from Mikel Arteta to further improve himself.

William Saliba has revealed the pivotal advice from Mikel Arteta that has shaped his development at Arsenal. The 24-year-old France international disclosed that Arteta’s most impactful guidance centres on maintaining aggression and intensity throughout every training session.

Speaking to Sky Sports on the best advice he has been given by the Spaniard, Saliba explained: “To be more aggressive, even in training, because sometimes I’m too nonchalant. Even in training you have to dominate everything to be alive. If you want to be the best, you have to be even at your best in training.”

In the 2023/24 season, Saliba became the first Arsenal outfield player in the Premier League era to play every single minute of a campaign, totalling 3,420 minutes across all league fixtures. This remarkable feat demonstrates the trust Arteta places in the Frenchman and his ability to maintain the required standards consistently.

Saliba has recently reportedly agreed terms on a new five-year contract at Arsenal, securing his future at Emirates Stadium until June 2030. The new deal reflects his status as one of the club’s most valuable assets and demonstrates the mutual commitment between player and club to continue their successful partnership.

Since making his competitive Arsenal debut in August 2022, Saliba has made 139 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven goals. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhães has formed the bedrock of Arsenal’s defensive solidity, with the Gunners keeping clean sheets in five of their seven games this season. Since the defensive partnership began, Arsenal have become regular title contenders under Arteta’s guidance.

Looking ahead, Arsenal face a crucial period with Champions League fixtures and domestic commitments requiring sustained performance levels. Next, Saliba and Arsenal travel to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle United, as they hope to close the gap to league leaders Liverpool.