William Saliba is determined to end Arsenal's gruelling 22-year wait for Premier League glory this season with the Gunners locked at the top of the table with Man City
William Saliba has told his Arsenal team-mates that cool heads will win them the Premier League title - providing they are prepared to "die" on the pitch.
The Gunners, who can move three points clear of FA Cup semi-finalists Manchester City at the summit with victory over Newcastle this weekend, have won just one of their past six matches in all competitions.
However, Saliba is out to restore the focus and warned Mikel Arteta's dressing room that they must avoid looking back on this season with any lingering regrets.
The imperious Frenchman told Men in Blazers: "I think we need to be calm. We need to die on the pitch as well, because it's now. Now we have to go, and we need everyone: the supporters, the team, the staff, everyone, because we have to do it now. After that, it's too late.
"When the season is finished, it's too late; you have to start the next season. It's now. You have to give everything and die on the pitch.
"Last game we wanted to win, and we didn't. But it's not finished. Now we know what we have coming, and we know what we have to do if we want to win the league. We have to start on Saturday.
"We have good pressure with us because when you play football, you want to play these kinds of games. We're ready for that."
Arsenal have not won in the Premier League since March 14 when they battled past Everton at the Emirates Stadium following late goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman.
Yet Saliba is not only out to atone for the Gunners' creaky recent form but also previous campaigns following a run of three successive second-place finishes.
The 25-year-old centre-back, who committed his long-term future to Arsenal earlier this season, is not ashamed to admit his side's Premier League title bid is keeping him up at night.
He continued: "When you're close to achieving your dreams, sometimes when you sleep, you think about that. We have the Champions League, Premier League, so of course you cannot think about something else.
"We haven't won the Premier League since 2004. It's been a while. It means a lot for us and for me personally. I've been here for four years and I've always finished second. If we change that this season, it will be a massive success for us and for me. I'm sure we will do that."
Arteta confirmed on Friday afternoon that Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are both available after shaking off recent injury issues.