Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
David Raya names the one Arsenal player who has to be at his best vs Real Madrid and ‘stop’ their threat
David Raya will be crucial for Arsenal as they would be aiming to keep Real Madrid quiet and capitalise on home advantage in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Raya revealed Arsenal have not discussed playing Real Madrid — which could suggest that they are doing anything but feeling the pressure of what is set to be their biggest game of the season.
However, the Emirates Stadium will be hoping for memorable displays from their big-hitters — from William Saliba to Bukayo Saka.
David Raya is a leader at the back for Mikel Arteta’s side and as the fixture looms closer, he seems like one who would be marshalling the troops behind the scenes.
David Raya says William Saliba must step up for Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Raya feels that William Saliba has to have a blinder against Real Madrid as Arsenal will be relying on him at the back.
The Spanish international sang the Frenchman’s praises and his partnership with the injured Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of the blockbuster showdown.
Raya spoke to beINSPORTS about Saliba and Arsenal’s contest against Real Madrid: “For me, between Gabi and Saliba, I think it’s one of the best partnerships in football, in the world.”
“Saliba has been great considering that he’s still young and got a long way to go and a lot of things to improve, and the qualities that he shows, he’s got a great future ahead of him.”
“So he’s just a great guy as well, he always wants to do the best for the team and he just needs to be at his top, him and Gabi or whoever plays in the centre-back.”
“They just have to be at the top of our game to stop the threat from Madrid.”
William Saliba record vs Kylian Mbappe in Ligue 1 ahead of Arsenal vs Real Madrid
Martin Keown raved about Saliba by naming him as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old merits such high praise as he is a truly exceptional defender.
Kylian Mbappe rates Saliba very highly as well and the childhood friends have clashed against each other in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille respectively.
| WILLIAM SALIBA RECORD VS KYLIAN MBAPPE | |
| APPEARANCES | 3 |
| WINS | 0 |
| DRAWS | 1 |
| LOSSES | 2 |
In the three times Saliba has come up against Mbappe in the past, he has lost two games and drawn one.
However, there is a first time for everything and the Gunners fan favourite will be hoping to show his countryman up on Tuesday.
Real Madrid reckon Saliba is on Jude Bellingham’s level as a centre-half and Carlo Ancelotti will be wary of the fact that the Arsenal colossus could keep his forwards quiet.
But as David Raya stated, Saliba has to rise to the occasion against Real Madrid if Arsenal wish to have any chance of toppling Real Madrid in the first leg.