December 12th 2024.
In a stellar performance, William Saliba and David Raya joined forces to help Arsenal secure a clean sheet in their dominant 3-0 victory over Monaco. However, Saliba was not just content with the win, as he took the opportunity to address the media's labeling of the French top flight as a "Farmer's league." As a defender for Arsenal, Saliba once again displayed his mastery in last night's match, solidifying his position at the heart of the team's defense.
The Gunners' triumph over Monaco was made possible by a brilliant brace from Bukayo Saka and a late goal from substitute Kai Havertz. This marked their fourth win in six Champions League games this season, placing them in an excellent position to advance to the knockout stage. While the scoreline may suggest a smooth victory, Arsenal had a tough time in the second half, struggling to convert their chances and nearly paying the price for it. Thilo Kehrer and Breel Embolo had opportunities to level the score for Monaco, but ultimately failed to capitalize on them.
Despite the impressive performance from Arsenal, their opponents, Adi Hutter's Monaco, are not out of the running yet. Brest and the surprise team of the competition, PSG, are still in contention, with the latter making a comeback with a 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. Saliba, who began his career at Saint-Etienne and had loan spells at Nice and Marseille, has been keeping a close eye on the French sides and is rooting for all three to make it to the next phase.
"I'm happy," Saliba shared in an interview with Canal+. "I saw Brest yesterday, Paris today, and I saw Lille win. It's a great feeling because there are still some who don't give us the respect we deserve. Even here in England, there are still those who label our league as the 'Farmers League.' I hope all the French teams qualify and continue to make us proud."
On the other hand, Arsenal seems to have found their footing and reestablished themselves as a strong contender in the Champions League. This is a significant achievement for the team, especially after a period of absence during the reigns of Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, and now Mikel Arteta. "We are enjoying our run, and we continue to learn," Arteta commented after the game, as their unbeaten home record in the competition was extended.
He added, "Today, we have a lot of learnings to take from this match, both from the team and individual experiences. We still have a lot to improve on, and we will continue to work towards that. We need to go through challenging moments, and I am confident that we will overcome them in the near future. It's a positive sign that we can compete against any team, but we also understand the difficulty of doing it consistently in this competition."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
