William Saliba had some strong words of praise after facing Manchester United’s newest addition, Patrick Dorgu, during Arsenal’s latest clash at Old Trafford. The French defender admitted that he had initially underestimated the young left-back but was left stunned by the way Dorgu played with such aggression and confidence, even turning him inside the 16-yard box in a way he had rarely experienced in his career.
Dorgu, a Danish-Nigerian talent who recently made the move to Manchester United, was thrown straight into the starting lineup for this massive fixture. Many doubted whether the youngster was ready for such a high-stakes encounter, but he silenced critics with a performance full of energy, courage, and determination.
From the very first whistle, Dorgu pressed Arsenal high up the pitch, carried the ball forward with conviction, and used his pace and strength to put one of the Premier League’s best defences under pressure.
One particular moment stood out when Dorgu spun Saliba inside the penalty box and nearly got a shot away, drawing gasps from the Old Trafford crowd. It was in that instance that Saliba realised he was dealing with a player far more dangerous than he had anticipated. Speaking after the game, Saliba admitted: “He’s not the type of player you expect to cause problems when you see his name on the team sheet, but on the pitch, it was very different. He’s young, strong, quick, and never stops pressing. Honestly, he surprised me.”
Despite Manchester United suffering another frustrating defeat, fans left the stadium talking about Dorgu’s standout display.
Many hailed him as a future star, impressed by his willingness to take on players of Saliba’s calibre without fear. Social media was buzzing with praise, with United supporters describing him as “a hidden gem” and “the kind of spark this team needs.”
For United boss Ruben Amorim, Dorgu’s performance was one of the few positives to take away from an otherwise disappointing evening. While United once again struggled to create enough clear chances, Dorgu’s drive and intensity stood out, showing glimpses of what he could bring to the squad in the long term.
His ability to unsettle a defender widely regarded as one of Europe’s best will give the manager hope that the youngster could play a big role in rebuilding the team’s attacking threat.
Although Arsenal ultimately came away with the three points, much of the post-match attention focused on Dorgu.
If he continues with this level of confidence and aggression, it would not be surprising to see him become one of the breakout stars of the Premier League this season. His fearless performance against Arsenal was just the beginning, and United may well have found a valuable asset for the future.
