Saliba may have been an unused substitute when France lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina on penalties, but that night still burns in his mind. The two nations are once more the favourites heading into the global showpiece event in the United States and the defender wants to beat the Albiceleste.
“The World Cup is in eight months. What sets us apart from Spain and Argentina is that they won the major competitions before the 2022 World Cup and the Euro,” he told reporters during this Wednesday’s press conference in the France camp at Clairefontaine. “But they don’t scare us. I already hope we qualify and get our revenge at the World Cup.”
Since Fernandez’s £107 million ($143m) switch from Benfica to Chelsea in February 2023, six weeks after his World Cup triumph, the Argentinian has endured a miserable time against Arsenal. The Blues, once the dominant London force, have found themselves repeatedly outclassed by Mikel Arteta’s slick, fearless side. The numbers don’t lie. Arsenal have lost just one of their last 12 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions, winning eight and drawing three.
It’s a complete reversal of fortunes. Not long ago, Chelsea were the bullies of London, smashing Arsenal in cup finals and league clashes alike. But under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have flipped the script. Now it’s Arsenal who dominate the derby, and Saliba is at the very heart of their new golden era. The towering Frenchman has become one of the most reliable defenders in Europe, elegant on the ball, ruthless in duels, and impossible to intimidate.
Asked if he’s already settled a score with Fernandez domestically, Saliba couldn’t resist a sly smile. “So far, I haven’t lost to him with Chelsea,” he said. “So, yes, I’ve had revenge with Arsenal on Chelsea. But it’s clear that, of course, when a team beats you, even if I hadn’t played against Argentina because I was on the bench, it’s the same thing. When a team beats you, the only thing you’re waiting for is to play them again. And if we do things well and qualify, I think we’ll have a way to get our revenge. Even if it’s not what we want, to go to the World Cup and necessarily get our revenge, we just want to win. But if we come up against them [Argentina], of course, we’ll be happy to get our revenge.”
Arteta’s faith in Saliba is absolute. From once being sent out on loan three times, to Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille, the young centre-back has risen to become one of the most valuable players in the Premier League. When Arteta first took charge in December 2019, Saliba was little more than a promising teenager with raw talent. But after years of perseverance and self-belief, he’s earned his manager’s total trust, and a bumper new contract to match. Saliba now pockets £250,000 per week, making him Arsenal’s third-highest earner, behind Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. The Gunners’ wage bill has ballooned to £328 million a year, with seven stars banking over £200k weekly, including new arrival Viktor Gyokeres. To outsiders, that’s eye-watering money. But for Arsenal’s board, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Being benched for the World Cup final was a bitter pill to swallow. Now, with Euro experience under his belt and back-to-back stellar Premier League campaigns, Saliba has become one of Europe’s elite defenders. Deschamps’ faith in him has only grown, and France’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup could be confirmed as early as Monday. All they need is Iceland to draw with Ukraine on Friday, and wins against Azerbaijan and Iceland themselves, to book their ticket. Argentina, meanwhile, have already qualified, topping the CONMEBOL standings with 38 points from 18 games. It sets the stage for a possible rematch, and Saliba is itching for it.
