William Saliba has claimed that Arsenal remain the biggest club in English football despite their recent setbacks.
Prior to the Premier League era, only Liverpool could claim to have won more titles that the Gunners.
The north Londoners won the old First Division 10 times, and are currently the most successful club in FA Cup history with 13 wins.
Anfield is still to welcome back a team of Premier League champions while Arsene Wenger won three titles, only to see Manchester United overtake the Gunners with 13 win under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Their managerial rivalry provided the Premier League with one of its most defining periods while Chelsea and Manchester City have since won nine titles between themselves since 2004.
Yet according to Saliba, Arsenal remain a step ahead of the rest.
"Well, first of all, it's a massive pleasure to sign for a really, really big English club," he said in an interview with the club's official website.
"This is the biggest club in England for me, so it was an easy decision.
"I didn't think twice about signing here, so I'm really happy."
Saliba will play one more season at Saint-Etienne before joining the first team squad.
Arsenal immediately loaned him back to the Ligue 1 club and will watch his progress with great interest ahead of the 2020/21 season.
It was a key part of the deal for the 18-year-old defender who feels he has unfinished business in France.
"Well, it was important first of all because I wanted to prove myself for another year at Saint-Etienne, before I come to try and establish myself here at Arsenal," he said.
"This is a big club, and when you come here, you need to be ready. So I'm going to try and have a great season with the club that developed me in order to be ready for Arsenal."
