WILLIAM SALIBA’S CHEEKY COMEBACK SILENCES LIVERPOOL TITLE BANTER
Arsenal's William Saliba responded to Liverpool rival Ibrahima Konaté's title taunt while on France duty, insisting "pressure must be applied" to the champions. The Gunners lead Liverpool by one point in the Premier League
Arsenal defender William Saliba responded cheekily to Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate's taunts on the Premier League title chase.
Konate's Liverpool, the defending champions, are one point behind the Gunners at the top of the league.
Saliba and Konate will have to put aside their clubs' rivalry and be France's teammates for the next few days, as the match has been halted for the international break. However, that has not eliminated the antagonism between the two.
During a signing session with supporters at the French national team's camp in Clairefontaine, Konate made light of Saliba. Konate was asked to sign a picture of the Liverpool player hoisting the Premier League trophy the previous season by a fan.
"Hey Wilo, is that you?" As he signed his name, Konate made a joke. Saliba said, "No, no, it is you for this year."
"It is for you this year," Konate insisted, to which the Arsenal star responded, "No, it is Liverpool again! Pressure must be applied to them.
Given that Arsenal is presently leading, Mikel Arteta's team is definitely exerting pressure on the winners. When the two teams met in August at Anfield, Liverpool emerged victorious with a late 1-0 victory.
However, Saliba, who recently inked a massive five-year contract deal, is sure that the Gunners will be the ones raising the trophy in May. After signing his new contract last month, the Frenchman remarked, "I feel proud of myself since I first signed in 2019, and now in 2025, I am still here to extend my contract."
"I am overjoyed. I am at home. We have a solid squad, a good team, and good employees. It is the greatest location to be because the coach is ideal for me.
"Every day I get to wear this shirt is something I cherish." I always do my best, and now I will do even more for this team and the supporters. The boss is among the world's best managers. I am thrilled to have him as a coach because he and his staff have been a huge help to me.
"At 24, I believe I have not yet attained my prime. I know that the coach and the staff will help me become the finest defender in the world and win trophies, but I still have a lot to learn and contribute to this squad."
The first of France's two World Cup qualifying matches this international window takes place in Paris on Friday against Azerbaijan. Next Monday, Les Blues will play their second game in Iceland.
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
