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William Saliba interview: From the Paris suburbs to a Champions League semi-final with Arsenal

Born and raised in the suburbs of the French capital, William Saliba is dreaming big with Arsenal ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Paris.

Saliba: 'I'm enjoying every moment'

A young William Saliba could typically be spotted near his home on the outskirts of Paris with two things: a ball at his feet and an Arsenal shirt with the name of hero Thierry Henry on the back.

Hit the fast-forward button and not all that much has changed. Saliba still enjoys having the ball at his feet – though the 24-year-old has traded striker, the preferred position of his youth, for centre-back – and still dons an Arsenal shirt, only with his own name printed on the back.

William Saliba on the ball during Arsenal's quarter-final first-leg victory over Real Madrid
William Saliba on the ball during Arsenal's quarter-final first-leg victory over Real MadridArsenal FC via Getty Images

What has changed is the settings in which he shines. Saliba’s first steps in football were trodden on the streets and pitches of Bondy in the Île-de-France region but some of his next, against Paris on Tuesday, will be at Arsenal Stadium in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

A trip to Paris follows the Wednesday after, but Saliba will enter both fixtures with a confidence and ambition that can be traced back to his footballing development in Bondy, a Parisian suburb which also incubated France international team-mates Randal Kolo Muani and Kylian Mbappé.

“I don't think anywhere in Paris or in France can beat the quality we have in the Île-de-France region,” Saliba told UEFA in December.

“A lot of talents emerge from here every year, especially from Seine-Saint-Denis [the department in which Bondy is located]. There’s a lot of street football there. We were lucky to grow up in Paris where there are many small pitches and you are able to play against other neighbourhoods.

“We used to play both in the small pitches nearby and also with our club, which helped me express myself and get better, improving my skills and making me a more mature footballer.”

William Saliba and Kylian Mbappé compete for the ball
William Saliba and Kylian Mbappé compete for the ballAFP via Getty Images

Saliba now partners with Mbappé at international level – and bested his Real Madrid side with Arsenal in the quarter-finals – but the pair’s first footballing encounters came as club-mates at AS Bondy, where Saliba played his football between ages six and 13.

With the talent at the club, opportunities to take the next step were soon forthcoming.

“Because of Kylian [Mbappé] and other players we had within the club, several scouts came to see us at the age of 12 or 13,” Saliba revealed.

“I remember when they came, and they were quite recognisable, you’d get a bit excited, and you just wanted to get out of the area. When you’re 12 or 13, you think life will be difficult if you don’t sign for a club at this age.

"Of course, you still have time afterwards but yes, many scouts came to see us. Sometimes, there were six or seven of them coming to every Saturday match.”

Saliba next joined FC Montfermeil, where he spent two years before landing at Saint-Étienne, the club from whom he joined Arsenal in 2019.

William Saliba signed for Arsenal in July 2019
William Saliba signed for Arsenal in July 2019Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Though unafraid to dream of professional football throughout that journey, representing Arsenal in the Champions League is something that goes beyond even the wildest imaginings of his younger self.

"I grew up watching Henry play, more videos than full matches because we didn't have the channels for the Premier League," Saliba said of his childhood interest in Arsenal.

"Sometimes I was lucky enough to watch Arsenal in the Champions League. That's where it all began – with Henry and the videos – that's when I developed a liking for the club. Thinking I'd play for Arsenal one day was really beyond my thoughts. But that's how fate works out sometimes."

A stalwart in the Arsenal defence, featuring in nine of their 12 Champions League games so far this campaign, Saliba has been a central figure in the tenure of Mikel Arteta, who returned Arsenal to the Champions League last season after a six-year absence.

But finding place at the North London club was hardly straightforward at first. Following his move from Saint-Étienne as an 18-year-old, Saliba spent three seasons on loan in France finally before making his Premier League debut in August 2022.

That proved a turning point for the young defender and he hasn’t looked back since, racking up over 120 appearances in all competitions, including 19 in the Champions League.

"It makes the story more beautiful because it wasn't easy straight away," Saliba said. "I had to work hard and go through some rather difficult periods. So today I'm very happy – I'm enjoying every match and I love this club."

William Saliba and his Arsenal team-mates celebrate the first goal against Real Madrid in the first leg
William Saliba and his Arsenal team-mates celebrate the first goal against Real Madrid in the first legArsenal FC via Getty Images

The next chapter of that story, he hopes, will include a first Champions League title for the Gunners.

"Winning titles, because everything is going well but the only thing missing is titles, lifting some major trophies," Saliba responded when asked about his next goal.

"That is how people will remember you, even 20 years later."