William Saliba has significantly boosted Arsenal by committing his future to the club. The French defender has been pivotal to Mikel Arteta’s squad since cementing his place in the starting lineup during the 2022-23 season.

At just 23 years old, Saliba has already surpassed 100 appearances for the Gunners and has featured in 13 Premier League matches this season as Arsenal chase the title.

His standout performances have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants identifying him as a key transfer target.

Despite the speculation, Saliba, who is under contract until 2027, made it clear that he feels “at home” at Arsenal and has no intention of leaving.

When asked about his future, he told The Mirror: “Yeah, of course, I feel at home. I signed for the club five years ago, but this is only my third season, and I’m enjoying everything — the players, the staff, and the fans. I feel at home, so of course, why not?”

Saliba’s consistent form has earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for the past two seasons.

His defensive contributions have been crucial to Arsenal’s success, helping the team maintain the second-best defensive record in the league with just 14 goals conceded in 14 games. Only league leaders Liverpool have a better record, with 11 goals conceded.

Even though Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points, Saliba remains confident that the gap can be closed. “Everything is possible,” he said. “The season is very long, and we’ve experienced that in the past two years. We just have to focus on ourselves. It’s still only December, so a lot of things can happen.”

Saliba was instrumental in Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Manchester United, scoring a crucial second goal that helped narrow the gap to Liverpool.

The Gunners now aim to build on that momentum when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, seeking to avenge last season’s defeat at the same venue.

Enzo Maresca has dismissed the notion that Chelsea are favorites to beat Tottenham in Sunday’s London derby, even though some Spurs fans have expressed doubts about attending due to fears of a heavy defeat.

While Chelsea are currently thriving under Maresca’s management, Tottenham are facing a challenging period, just two weeks after their emphatic 4-0 victory over Manchester City. Despite the contrasting form of the two teams, Maresca remains cautious and confident that Tottenham fans will show up to support their team.

“First of all, the fans are going to be there, no doubt,” Maresca stated. “And second, we are not favorites, absolutely not. They are playing in European competition, just like we are. Even though we are second in the table, that does not make us favorites.”

Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, were briefly seen as title contenders last season, much like Chelsea are being discussed now. However, Maresca emphasized that his approach isn’t influenced by Tottenham’s recent dip in form.

“I don’t think we need Ange’s experience or Tottenham’s experience to understand that things can change quickly,” Maresca explained. “Every football season, whether in England, Spain, or Italy, shows that situations can shift rapidly.”

Maresca’s cautious outlook reflects his belief that no team can take success for granted, especially in a fiercely competitive Premier League.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola sparked curiosity when visible scratches were seen on his face following a dramatic draw against Feyenoord.

The Premier League champions, desperate to end their winless run, appeared to be cruising to victory with a 3-0 lead. However, a late collapse in the final 15 minutes saw them settle for a draw, further compounding their frustrations.

Guardiola, addressing the media after the match, drew attention for the marks on his nose and head. When questioned, he explained that the injuries were accidental but lightheartedly joked about wanting to harm himself. “My finger, here,” Guardiola said, pointing to his nose. “My nail. I want to harm myself.”

As Guardiola left the press conference, a reporter offered words of encouragement, saying, “It will be okay.”

However, things remain far from okay for City, who now face the daunting challenge of an away game at league leaders Liverpool this weekend. Guardiola stressed the need for his side to regroup and regain their form ahead of the critical clash at Anfield.

Reflecting on the Feyenoord game, Guardiola expressed frustration over the missed opportunity to secure a win. “Three episodes didn’t allow us to win, what we needed,” he said. “The game was good. We scored three, could have scored more, and did everything, but in the end, we gave away the first goal and lost stability.”

He continued, “It’s not about running or commitment, but in football, you have to do it in the key moments. The second goal, it hits the post—what can you do? We need to rest for a day or two and prepare for Anfield.”

When asked about lifting the team’s morale, Guardiola acknowledged his responsibility. “We have to, I have to—it’s my job,” he said. “We played a good game but couldn’t control the last minutes.”

Should City lose to Liverpool this weekend, they risk falling 11 points behind in the Premier League title race. After the trip to Merseyside, City will host Nottingham Forest before traveling to face Crystal Palace, a schedule that leaves little room for error.