William Saliba has been included in France’s squad ahead for the World Cup that is set to begin at the end of the month. It will be the youngster's first major international competition with the senior side.
Speaking after the Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Saliba vowed to emulate former Arsenal legends for France at the World Cup, and has shown gratitude towards the north London side for playing a key part in his national team inclusion.
"I want to be the next Frenchmen to do that, like Pires or Vieira or Henry. We will see," Saliba said when asked about Arsenal’s history with French players winning the World Cup.
READ MORE: The one thing William Saliba has done to impress Mikel Arteta and earn France World Cup call
"I wanted to be in it, but you know in France we have a lot of good defenders so that is why I am so happy. If I am in the squad it’s because I had a good start to the season with Arsenal. I am so happy and grateful to be in this squad," he added.
Saliba has been playing alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of the defence for every Premier League game so far this season. The pair have created a strong partnership, which has helped the Gunners sit at the top of the table after 13 games.
The Frenchman spoke about the importance of the relationship between the pair not just on the pitch, but also off it. "He’s a good partner, a very good player but every defender in this team we are so close," Saliba added.
"That’s why we start well and we haven’t conceded a lot of goals in the league. So it’s good because we are all friends, we are all together.
"We are all close. Some people I didn’t know before but now this season I try to be close with them. But we are all close because it’s a young team with some older guys but it’s good, we are close even off the pitch."
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Frenchman's contract. football.london understands that his deal expires in 2023, but Arsenal have the option to extend it by a further year.
Saliba signed his first deal with the club when he joined the Gunners in 2019 for a £27million fee from St Etienne, and he would go on loan back to France three times before eventually breaking into Mikel Arteta's side. Despite being away from the club for a couple of seasons, he was still able to compare the mentality in the dressing room from before he left on loan, and to what it is like now.
"I think the energy is different and the mentality is different," he said. "This dressing room this year is amazing, I think we have to keep going like this. To try to win something this year."
Before Saliba heads off to the World Cup, Arsenal still have to play one more league game against Wolves. A win for the Gunners would secure the top spot going into the Premier League season pause.
With the World Cup being at the forefront of people's minds at the moment, Saliba has vowed to give his all to Arsenal before joining up with the France squad.
"I had a little period when I was not too good, but since the last two weeks I have started to be better. I have to be more consistent. Today I am not happy because we lost, but we have one game before the World Cup. It’s so important and we have to win," he said.
"I have to be focused on the last game with Arsenal. To push to win and then after this game I will be focused 100% with the national team."
READ NEXT:
Mikel Arteta gives brutally honest review of Fabio Vieira as Arsenal transfer call questioned
Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton as Karl Hein endures nightmare debut but Saliba shows class
What William Saliba and Rob Holding did to Karl Hein after Arsenal mistake vs Brighton
What Danny Welbeck did after scoring against Arsenal for Brighton amid unique record
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
