Los Blancos are looking for a new, world-class centre-back to build a defence around and the France international is the ideal candidate
This is how it goes in Madrid. A good footballer might be available. There are whispers that contracts could be run down, or that thinly-veiled links could bring two parties together. Jude Bellingham loves Zinedine Zidane. Kylian Mbappe had Cristiano Ronaldo posters on his wall. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham went to a few concerts together – and seemed like good mates in a celebration at Euro 2024.
The unfortunate thing for Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Liverpool is that these things often end up being true. Where there is digitally-generated smoke, there tends to be fire. And the latest fad in the Spanish capital surrounds another top-tier talent in the Premier League. Every so often, Saliba links crop up in the French or Spanish media. This is part of the football landscape. Saliba is among the best centre-backs in the world. The fact that he does not currently play for Madrid means he will be linked with Los Blancos until he eventually does.
The scary reality here – at least for Arsenal fans – is that this one makes sense. Madrid, unfortunately, have a need at centre-back. Should Alexander-Arnold sign and Fran Garcia continue to improve, the full-back situation is sorted. In the middle, though, there are long-term questions. And Saliba, best-in-the-world-elect, is the perfect man to hold down the middle for years to come.
Getty Madrid's defensive issues
Madrid are bad defensively this year. There's no real way to spin it. This team, whose calling card a couple of years ago was their ability to keep the ball out of the net, can't stop opponents from scoring.
They have the fourth-best defensive record in La Liga, behind Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club. In cup competitions, they're even worse. The four goals conceded to a blunt Real Sociedad side looked bad, as did porous showings against Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Liverpool.
And then, there have been the woes in big games. Barca have found the blueprint to beat Los Blancos this year: play vertically, and force an immobile centre-back pairing to run. It worked a treat in two Clasicos, the Blaugrana scoring nine times across their two meetings this year.
Part of this is a personnel issue. There have been individual absentees that Carlo Ancelotti can point to – not least Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao. Injuries haven't helped in midfield, either, with Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni all missing time. The lackadaisical attitude towards defending from Kylian Mbappe, too, is detrimental.
Piece it all together, and Madrid are both weak in individual areas and limited as a team. There is no real recognizable structure here, and an obvious formula to beat them.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe significance of an elite defender
No one defender alone can fix all of those issues. But it would be a pretty good start. Perhaps an apt comparison is that of Virgil Van Dijk at Liverpool in early 2018. That team, too, was excellent going forward but flawed at the back. His arrival shored things up, and turned Jurgen Klopp's side into an elite defensive unit. The same can be said of Ruben Dias at Manchester City, or, further back, Sergio Ramos' growing influence at Madrid.
And make no mistake – if Saliba isn't of that calibre yet, he's not far off. In fact, he has already done the same for Arsenal. This is a team, remember, that toiled through years of 'banter era' central defenders. While Saliba was out on loan in France, Gunners had to watch the likes of David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi play at the back. They were, at times, comically bad.
Saliba alone did not change that – it took some tactical nous from Mikel Arteta and some sound defensive rejigging – but he certainly played a key role. And Arteta summarized his impact in full back in May 2024.
"He had to prove himself elsewhere. And he was incredible, consistent, regular, he knew how to handle other problems. He came back and, after one or two training sessions, in a new environment, we knew that from now on he could do it. Since then, he has proven it brilliantly to everyone. His progress and consistency are incredible. We are very happy to have him with us," Arteta said at a press conference.
Getty ImagesThe French connection
The centre-back had made waves among Arsenal fans for some time. There were whispers of this French kid out on loan who could someday become atop class talent.
But the wider sphere didn't take notice until one key moment. When Mbappe runs into left channel, you are not supposed to stop him. The French forward is too quick, too agile and too clever for most centre backs to get anywhere near him.
But on October 25, 2021, Saliba did. And he pinched the ball away, too, making a dramatic last-ditch tackle to deny what seemed to be a certain goal. Suddenly, people began to take notice. Who was this kid? And how could he run down the man no one can catch?
As it turns out, the duo have previous. Saliba, famously, was coached by Mbappe's father as a child. The two are intrinsically connected. Mbappe backed Saliba for success, too, dubbing him one of the best centre-backs in the world, and pegging him as a star for the future of French football.
"He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus," Mbappe said in 2024.
If flattery counts for anything, then Mbappe has done his job.
Getty Images SportArsenal lacking something
It is worth, at this point, examining where Arsenal are right now. Arteta has made immense strides as manager, turning this team from an afterthought into a consistent title contender.
With this current squad, under this current manager, the Gunners will always be in the conversation for winning the Premier League, and a threat in cup competitions.
But there is a certain element to the side missing. It is not just the overwhelming need for a No.9 that still hasn't been addressed.
There's something deeper at play here, something holding them back, something that prevented them from overhauling Manchester City in two title races before being shockingly left trailing in Liverpool's wake this season.
