I once underrated Him but the way He turned me in the 16yards box today still surprised me,in my career I have never faced such a dangerously aggressively player before”, William Saliba named the ONE Man United that really gave Him tough time Today

Arsenal’s defensive powerhouse, William Saliba, walked out of Old Trafford with mixed emotions following his team’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United. While the Frenchman celebrated the crucial win that kept Arsenal’s momentum alive in the Premier League title race, he also admitted to being taken completely by surprise during the match. For perhaps the first time in recent memory, Saliba confessed that an opponent had truly unsettled him on the pitch—forcing him into one of the most intense one-on-one battles of his career.

Speaking after the game, the usually composed and confident centre-back opened up about the unexpected challenge he faced. “I’ll be honest, I underestimated him,” Saliba admitted candidly. “When I saw his name on the team sheet, I didn’t think too much of it. But the way he turned me inside the box today completely caught me off guard. I’ve played against world-class strikers across Europe, but rarely have I come across someone so aggressive, so relentless, and so determined to test me at every single moment.”

The player he was referring to was none other than Patrick Dorgu, the young Danish-Nigerian full-back who was thrust into United’s starting lineup for this high-profile clash. His inclusion raised eyebrows before kick-off, with many doubting whether a relatively inexperienced player was ready to handle the pressure of such a massive fixture. Yet from the first whistle, Dorgu proved his doubters wrong in emphatic fashion.

Displaying fearlessness and maturity beyond his years, Dorgu immediately set about making his presence felt. He pressed Arsenal’s defense with relentless energy, carried the ball forward with confidence, and never shied away from physical duels. His raw pace and powerful running continually forced Saliba and his defensive partner onto the back foot. Perhaps the defining moment came inside the penalty area when Dorgu spun Saliba with a sharp turn and came agonizingly close to scoring. The Old Trafford crowd roared in disbelief, recognizing that the young defender had just embarrassed one of Europe’s most reliable centre-backs.

Saliba later reflected on that sequence with honesty: “He really shocked me. You think because he’s young and relatively new at this level that he won’t trouble you. But on the pitch, it’s a different story altogether. He’s strong, quick, and doesn’t let you breathe. Every time I thought I had him under control, he found another way to fight back. That’s not something you see very often.”

Despite Manchester United falling short on the scoreline, the fans inside Old Trafford left the stadium buzzing with excitement—not about the result, but about Dorgu’s remarkable performance. Social media quickly lit up with praise for the youngster, with supporters hailing him as a “hidden gem” and the kind of fearless talent the team has been missing for years. His confidence and ability to rattle one of the league’s best defenders have sparked fresh optimism about his future at the club.

For United manager Ruben Amorim, who was visibly frustrated by the narrow defeat, Dorgu’s emergence provided a rare silver lining. The Portuguese coach highlighted the youngster’s resilience, noting how significant it was to see him go toe-to-toe with a defender of Saliba’s caliber. Indeed, Saliba’s admission of being genuinely troubled by Dorgu is a telling indication that Manchester United may have stumbled upon a rising star—one capable of not only holding his own in the Premier League but potentially growing into one of the club’s most important players in the coming years.