“He’s Not Actually Whom I Think He Is, He’s a Beast in Human Form!” – Ancelotti Shocked by Arsenal Star’s Dominance, and It’s Not Declan Rice or Merino
In a match where all eyes were expected to be on Arsenal’s usual headline-grabbers like Declan Rice or the newly linked Mikel Merino, it was another name that had legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti lost for words – and not in the way you’d expect. After the final whistle blew and the dust settled at the Emirates, Ancelotti’s press conference was nothing short of jaw-dropping as he admitted: “He’s not actually whom I think he is, he’s a beast in human form, he’s the pillar holding this Arsenal side together.”
It wasn’t a name that often trends on social media, nor is it someone the pundits spend hours dissecting on TV. But today, it was undeniable: William Saliba stole the show.
Carlo Ancelotti, a man who’s managed generational talents like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kaka, was visibly impressed – even stunned – by Saliba’s commanding presence at the heart of Arsenal’s defense. “We prepared to exploit spaces behind Arsenal’s lines. We thought we could draw their centre-backs out and capitalize,” said the Real Madrid boss. “But this boy… he didn’t flinch. He’s not just defending – he’s orchestrating.”
From the first whistle, Saliba looked like a man possessed. Every duel he engaged in, he won. Every long ball sent forward was either intercepted or chested down with ease. He was everywhere, reading the game two steps ahead, shutting down attacking channels like a general leading his army from the back.
Arsenal, for all their attacking flair and midfield brilliance, looked at times like a side built around one immovable object – and that was Saliba. His partnership with Gabriel Magalhães continues to flourish, but it was clear who the leader of that defensive line was today.
Even the fans, who have been gradually falling in love with the Frenchman’s consistency this season, erupted with chants of “Saliba! Saliba!” as he thwarted what looked like a sure goal from Madrid’s lethal striker Joselu in the dying minutes.
Pundits were quick to react. Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown declared on live television: “We always talk about Van Dijk as the prototype of the modern centre-back, but Saliba – he’s rewriting that mold. And if Ancelotti is shocked, then the rest of Europe better wake up.”
Ancelotti’s comments weren’t just praise – they were a warning. A warning that Saliba isn’t just a rising star anymore. He’s arrived. And he’s anchoring an Arsenal side that’s no longer just playing to make top four, but aiming for every trophy in sight.
Mikel Arteta, when asked about the Italian’s praise, simply smiled and responded, “That’s William. Quiet, composed, and monstrous when it matters most. He doesn’t say much, but he speaks with the way he plays. That’s the standard now.”
So while the headlines may have been written for the likes of Declan Rice or potential target Mikel Merino, today belonged to the man who’s quietly become Arsenal’s most important player. He doesn’t just defend – he dominates. And if Carlo Ancelotti can’t stop singing his praises, perhaps it’s time the rest of the football world gives William Saliba his flowers – because he might just be the pillar that leads Arsenal to glory.