"This Is My Childhood Dream – I Love It!" – William Saliba Opens Up on His Love for Arsenal

Arsenal defender William Saliba has revealed a wonderful piece of his past that shows his deep love four the club. The French centre-back revealed that he have been a fan of Arsenal since he was a child and even wore the team’s shirt when he was just six years old.

“I have a photo where I was six years old, I have my Arsenal jersey on,” Saliba said. When asked if he is now living his childhood dream, he smiled and replied, “Yeah, my childhood dream, yeah, I love it!”

This shows how much Saliba cares about Arsenal and it’s people. He’s not just playing for the badge and money — he’s playing for the team he loved since he was a little boy.

From Bondy to the Emirates

William Saliba was born in Bondy, a town near Paris that’s also the hometown of Kylian Mbappé. Arsenal signed him in July 2019 from Saint-Étienne for around £27 million. At the time he was considered one of the best young defenders in France.

However, his start at Arsenal was slow. He spent time on loan at three different French clubs — Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille — to gain experience. It was not untill the 2022–23 season that he became a regulaar starter under manager Mikel Arteta.

Saliba quickly proved his importance. He played 27 league games before getting injured in March 2023. After that, Arsenal struggled in defence, conceding more goals and losing their lead in the title race.

A Key Player in Arsenal’s Defence

Now back to full fitness, Saliba is one of Arsenal’s most important players. Alongside Gabriel Magalhães, he have helpd make Arsenal’s defence one of the best in the Premier League this season.

So far in the 2024–25 campaign, Arsenal have only conceded 22 goals in 32 matches — the lowest in the league. Saliba’s control on the ball, smart positioning, and strong defending in one-on-one situations have made him one of the top defenders in England.

Last season, he has a pass completion rate of 93%, the highest among Premier League defenders. He also ranked among the top three for winning defensive duels.

What make Saliba special is not just his football skills but also his love for Arsenal. Today, many players move from club to club, but Saliba’s story is different. He grew up dreaming of playing for Arsenal, and now he is living that dream.

His passion fits perfectly with manager Mikel Arteta’s vision — to build a team ful of talented players who truly care about the club.

With only a few games left thiss seasons, Arsenal are still fighting for the Premier League title. Big matches are coming, including one against rivals Manchester City. Saliba’s strong performances could be the key to winning the trophy.

Winning the league with Arsenal will be more than simply a career achievement for Saliba; it would be the fulfilment of a dream that began when he was six years old and wore an Arsenal jersey.