Real Madrid actually couldn’t believe how good one Arsenal player was against them, they were shocked

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Arsenal beat Real Madrid in both legs in the Champions League last season.

The Gunners had a really difficult 2024/25 campaign. Injuries to several key players derailed their season, but they still managed to produce some exceptional moments.

The best of all was against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Declan Rice starred in the home leg, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s goals helped Mikel Arteta’s side win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

As good as those three players were, the one who impressed Real Madrid the most was someone else.

Real Madrid were surprised by William Saliba’s performance against them

William Saliba is one of the best defenders in the world.

The Frenchman has been consistently brilliant for the Gunners over the last three years, and he is among the biggest reasons why they have been challenging for the major trophies.

Almost every top club in the world would love to sign Saliba, including Real Madrid, but Arsenal have no interest in letting him leave.

AS claim that the Galacticos were really surprised by how good the defender was in the quarter-final clash between the two clubs last season.

Real Madrid want to try and sign Saliba, but the report claims that Arsenal don’t even want to hear the Spanish club’s name.

It has further been revealed that even an offer of €100 million will not be entertained by Arsenal, who are desperate to keep hold of Saliba.

The Gunners’ number two has entered the final 24 months of his contract at the Emirates, so until he signs a new deal, Arsenal fans will fear losing him.

READ MORE: Bukayo Saka can’t stop laughing after hearing what William Saliba has now been asked to do at Arsenal

What Mikel Arteta has said about William Saliba’s future

Saliba’s contract situation is not ideal at all.

Allowing the Frenchman to enter the last two years of his deal could seriously backfire if he refuses to sign a new one in the coming months.

However, people behind the scenes at Arsenal, including Mikel Arteta, are not worried and are confident that Saliba will stay at the club.

Speaking about the situation in May, the Arsenal manager said: “What I’m certain, because I had the conversation with him, is that he is so happy here, that he wants to continue with us and what will happen in the future with our negotiations and things that have to take time and process and be on top of them.

“But, I’m quite confident that William is very happy here, and this is the place that he wants to be.”