Despite a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Newcastle, Arsenal defender William Saliba remains optimistic about his team’s Premier League title hopes.
The loss adds to Arsenal’s recent challenges, with the team having trouble finding their stride this season after pushing Manchester City to the very end of the title race last year.
The Gunners have won only five of their first ten league matches, leaving fans and the squad disappointed as they work to regain form.
Today’s game at St James’ Park was an opportunity for Arsenal to rebuild confidence after a run of inconsistent performances. Unfortunately, it was Newcastle who claimed the victory, thanks to an early header from Alexander Isak in the 12th minute. Arsenal’s offense struggled to respond and managed just one shot on target throughout the match.
As a result, Newcastle has moved up to ninth place in the standings, while Arsenal is now five points behind league leaders Manchester City. City, aiming to strengthen their lead, will take on Bournemouth later in the day.
Following the match, Saliba spoke with TNT Sports, sharing the disappointment he and his teammates felt. “We are all a bit sad because we wanted to win today,” he said. Saliba acknowledged that Arsenal fell short in executing their game plan and recognized Newcastle’s strong performance.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t play the way we wanted, and we deserved to lose. We didn’t perform as we should have, and they played well.” However, Saliba stressed that Arsenal’s focus remains forward-looking. “It’s okay, we’re focused on next week. It’s not over.”
Saliba underlined the importance of unity within the squad to maintain their title challenge, insisting that they must not let this setback define their season. “We need to stick together,” he emphasized. Drawing on last season’s experience, Saliba recalled similar rough patches they had overcome and expressed confidence that the team can bounce back. “Last season, we went through a similar spell, and we need to stay confident and believe we can bounce back.”
The defender also took personal responsibility for his own form, admitting that he hadn’t been at his best. “I need to be better than I was in the last game.
I wasn’t at my best, and I know I need to get back to my top level,” Saliba said. He believes his own improvements will positively impact the team’s overall performance, adding that he’s committed to putting in the work needed to return to peak condition.
Looking ahead, Arsenal has a busy schedule with crucial fixtures on the horizon. They will travel to Italy to face Inter Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League on Wednesday, where they’ll aim to deliver a strong performance on the European stage.
Following that, the Gunners face another major test with a London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next weekend. As the season progresses, Arsenal will look to regroup and find the consistency needed to sustain teir title ambitions.
