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Arsenal vs Real Madrid combined XI ahead of Champions League clash
Arsenal host Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday night, so we’ve picked out the best players from each side for a star-studded combined XI.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Combined XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid
Right out the gate we are met with our first dilemma. David Raya has established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League over the past few years, winning last season’s Golden Glove for keeping the most clean sheets.
But Thibaut Courtois is among the best in the world in his position, with Alisson Becker arguably the only player between the sticks who say they are superior. For all of the firepower Real boast, they would not have won either of their two most recent Champions Leagues without the Belgian shot stopper.
RB: Jurrien Timber – Arsenal
There’s a reason why Real are keen to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer. Aside from the fact he’s a supremely talented footballer, they need a new right-back. With Dani Carvajal sidelined by a cruciate ligament injury, Fede Valverde has had to fill in.
This leaves Jurrien Timber as the obvious pick for this position. Although Ben White would be first-choice for Arsenal if he were fit, the Dutchman has been more than solid in the role this season.
CB: William Saliba – Arsenal
The fact that Real Madrid reportedly want to sign William Saliba is proof enough that he deserves his spot in this lineup. But the France international is also just one of the finest centre-backs in the game right now. Not just an assured protector at the back, he’s very comfortable on the ball, making the third-most passes of any defender in the Premier League this season. No wonder Mikel Arteta loves him.
CB: Antonio Rüdiger – Real Madrid
Gabriel Magalhães is so unfortunate to miss out here following his hamstring injury. The Brazilian’s partnership with Saliba is unmatched, the two complimenting each other perfectly to form the meanest defence in football.
Antonio Rüdiger is no slouch, though. Indeed, he’s the very opposite; his boundless energy is a sight to behold. Admittedly, it’s not been a vintage season for the 32-year-old, but he easily gets in over every other available defender.
The two-time Champions League winner is also one of the amusing characters in the game.
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal
The number of defensive injuries both clubs have sustained this season has made room for an 18-year-old to take the left-back spot. But that doesn’t mean Myles Lewis-Skelly isn’t here on merit.
The youngster has grabbed his unexpected opportunity with both hands this season, nailing down a place in Arteta’s starting lineup. He’s very confident carrying the ball forward, as he showed against Everton, but there is a certain amount of erraticism in his defending he will have to eliminate to be an elite player.
There was only one way to stop Myles Lewis-Skelly here
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 5, 2025
CM: Luka Modric – Real Madrid
Luka Modric turns 40 later this year, but he remains one of the classiest footballers around. After all these years he is still the creative force behind this Real side, who struggle to generate meaningful attacks without his presence.
CM: Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal
Speaking of classy players, Martin Ødegaard makes up the other half of our midfield pairing. What a duo him and Modric would be.
That could have been a reality had Real not sold the Norwegian maestro to Arsenal in 2021 following a short loan spell. Ødegaard has since developed into the world-class midfielder Los Blancos envisaged when they signed him as a 15-year-old prodigy.
CAM: Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
It took just five years for Jude Bellingham to go from Birmingham City starlet to Champions League winner with Real Madrid. The England international is only 21 but has already achieved so much to become one of the best footballers in the world.
Since leaving Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham has become a more lethal attacker, scoring 27 goals in just 52 LaLiga appearances. There is little doubt he will be the preeminent No.10 for club and country for the next decade at least.
RW: Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
This is a tough position to pick as both Arsenal and Real can count on two exceptional right wingers. Rodrygo is probably one of the most underrated wide forwards in the sport, which is understandable when he’s playing next to superstars who hog all the headlines and attention online. His end product isn’t impressive by any means, but he’s very smart on the ball and the frontline wouldn’t function as well without him.
However, Bukayo Saka is a truly wonderful footballer who makes Arsenal’s attack tick. Everything goes down his side because he can conjure up magic with his feet. Only Mo Salah (23) has completed more goal-creating actions than Saka (21) in the Premier League this season, even though the England international missed a large chunk of the campaign through injury.
LW: Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid
Very few players in the world are good enough that a manager has to move Kylian Mbappé out of his preferred position, but Vinicius Jr has proved himself enough as an elite attacker to do just that.
Signed as a teenage prospect in 2018, the Brazilian has become the long-term successor to Cristiano Ronaldo on the left. He doesn’t have the end product of his predecessor, but he comes alive on big Champions League nights. The 24-year-old has been involved in 18 knockout ties and only failed to provide a goal or assist in two of them (the 2020/21 semi-finals against Chelsea and last month’s quarter-final clashes with Atletico Madrid).
CF: Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
There wasn’t much competition for this spot given Arsenal have been reduced to putting Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard up front lately. But there are precious few combines XIs Mbappé wouldn’t get into.
The 2018 World Cup winner has scored 22 goals in his maiden LaLiga campaign, with only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski scoring more (25). He’s added another seven in Europe as he hunts down his first Champions League winners medal.
Read – Arteta says Real Madrid have ‘earned’ Champions League aura
See Also – Arteta says Real Madrid game his ‘biggest night in management’
See Also – Arteta says Real Madrid game his ‘biggest night in management’
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