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Arsenal defender William Saliba defended the competitiveness of Williams Saliba.
Arsenal defender William Saliba highlighted the performance of French Ligue 1 teams in the Champions League this season, firing at critics of the division's competitiveness.
Saliba, a France international, naturally came through the ranks in his home country, specifically Saint Etienne. Despite joining the Gunners as a teenager, he spent loan spells at OGC Nice and Marseille, where he gained relevant Ligue 1 experience.
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23:03 - 11.12.2024
Saka scores brace in Arsenal's win over Monaco as they continue hunt for automatic qualification
Arsenal secured a vital three points at home against French side Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.
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17:41 - 13.12.2024
Arsenal vs. Everton: Prediction, head-to-head, team news, possible lineups and betting tips
Arsenal will welcome relegation-threatening Everton to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as they continue their chase for the Premier League title. Here are predictions, team news, betting tips, and possible line-ups for the game.
What Saliba said
Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+ after Arsenal's 3-0 triumph over Monaco, Saliba stressed the strides clubs in the French top flight have taken in Europe's elite competition this season.
“I’m glad. I saw Brest and PSG winning yesterday (on Tuesday) and Lille won too“, Saliba said, per GFFN.
“That feels good because some people don’t respect us. Even here, in England, they think it’s the farmers’ league.“
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There are two Ligue 1 clubs in the top eight (automatic qualification) on the Champions League log; only the Premier League has more representatives (3) than the French League's two (Brest and Lille).
Lille secured a stunning victory against Real Madrid, while Monaco handed Barcelona their only defeat in Europe this season.
Only PSG, the current Ligue 1 leaders, lie outside the top 24 in the UCL standings, underscoring the strength of the French top division.
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