William Saliba Opens Up About Heated Exchange With Mikel Arteta After Costly Error.
In a dramatic twist following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, William Saliba has revealed tension between himself and manager Mikel Arteta. Speaking candidly after the match, Saliba admitted responsibility for the equalizer scored by Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta but said Arteta’s reaction went too far.
“I know I made a mistake for that equalizer Mateta scored,” Saliba admitted. “But what Arteta said to me after the match, I will not accept from anybody — not even my manager.”
The French defender didn’t go into full detail about the exact words exchanged, but insiders say Arteta was visibly furious at full-time. Eyewitnesses at Selhurst Park described an intense confrontation between the two, with Saliba appearing visibly upset as he left the pitch.
This comes as a shock to many fans, given how important Saliba has been to Arsenal’s defense this season. His composure and maturity have been hailed as key factors in the Gunners’ title push. However, today’s mistake — a misjudged clearance that led directly to Palace’s equalizer — proved costly, and tempers clearly flared.
While Arteta is known for demanding high standards, some will question whether a public reprimand was the right approach for a young player who has shown such consistency.
Sources close to the dressing room suggest that Saliba expects an apology, or at least a conversation to clear the air, in the coming days. With Arsenal’s season entering a crucial stage, the relationship between Arteta and one of his star players will be one to watch closely.
Fans will hope that both men can put the incident behind them and refocus on the bigger goal: bringing silverware back to the Emirates.
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