Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has issued a warning to manager Mikel Arteta regarding the future of star centre-back William Saliba, asserting that Real Madrid’s global prestige remains a major threat to the Gunners. Speaking to SeatPick, the former France international questioned whether Arsenal have built a high enough platform to convince Saliba to turn down the LaLiga giants if an offer materializes. Gallas stressed that when comparing the historical weight and stature of both institutions, Real Madrid operates on a different level entirely.
Saliba originally joined Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in 2019 before undertaking a series of loan moves in France to refine his game. Since integrating fully into Arteta’s squad, the France international has established himself as one of the world’s premier central defenders. Although Arsenal have the defender tied under contract until 2030, Gallas cautioned that long-standing interest from Madrid could easily unsettle the player, noting that few footballers can resist the opportunity to move to the Santiago Bernabéu.
While Arsenal’s impressive resurgence under Arteta provides a strong sporting project, Gallas argued that competing against Real Madrid’s aura is a monumental challenge for any club. For a player of Saliba’s caliber and ambition, the choice involves competing at the absolute pinnacle of football history—a factor that Arsenal’s recent form alone may struggle to counter if Europe’s most decorated club comes calling.
