William Saliba is certain Arsenal will have to win each of their remaining five games to be crowned Premier League champions for the first since 2004.
The France defender said he ‘needed two days’ to get over Sunday’s defeat at title rivals Manchester City and knows Arsenal cannot afford another slip-up at home to out-of-form Newcastle on Saturday.
‘I hate to lose, especially this kind of game,’ Saliba told the Men In Blazers Media Network.
‘You feel sad at home, you think about it a lot but you have to focus on what is next. We didn’t deserve to lose at City, we didn’t take chances. We have to win every game now to win the title.’
Saliba made it clear just how desperate he is to land his first major silverware, saying: ‘Even when I sleep, I think about it, when you are close to achieving your dream in the Champions League and Premier League.
William Saliba felt the pain of losing to Manchester City – with Erling Haaland scoring the winner – and believes Arsenal will need five wins from five to lift the Premier League title
‘I haven’t won anything big in my career yet but I will give everything to win the title and the Champions League. The most difficult is the first one and then you have won it I am sure it is easier.’
In a major boost, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori were both likely to be in the squad for Saturday’s clash.
Saka has not featured for the Gunners since their Carabao Cup final defeat by City last month due to an achilles issue. Since then, Arsenal have won just once in five games in all competitions.
Saliba stressed the importance of Saka. ‘We have missed him, he is a key player and we need him now,’ he said.
‘He brings calmness and we are better with him in the team. The last few games have not been great but we learn and move on to this weekend’s game to change everything.’
