Arsenal could face a reminder of what could have been should they navigate their Champions League round-of-16 clash with PSV Eindhoven.
The Gunners, who automatically progressed from the league phase in third, will face the Dutch champions, who knocked out Juventus in the knockout play-off round. If, as expected, Mikel Arteta’s side overcome PSV, they will face the winners of the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico in the quarter-finals.
The 15-time Champions League/European Cup winners will be favourites to beat their city rivals over two legs. An Arsenal vs Real last-eight tie would see the Gunners go head to head with Jude Bellingham, a player they so nearly signed a decade ago. Even as a young teenager, Bellingham’s startling ability had attracted the attention of Premier League scouts.
At under-14 level, he was invited for a tour of the Gunners’ training base. According to The i, Arsenal were hopeful that a fee of £500,000 would be enough to prise him away from boyhood club Birmingham City.
However, after consulting with his family, who have always been central to his decision-making, it was decided that Bellingham should stay put. It wasn’t long before he was training with the Blues’ first-team squad at 15. He then made his senior debut at just 16.
Chelsea had also been interested in Bellingham as a youngster but he rejected the Premier League in favour of a move to Borussia Dortmund for what now seems like a bargain £25million in 2020. Three years later, having emerged as one of the top midfielders in Europe, he joined Real for a fee which could rise to £115m.
He already has one Champions League medal after helping Real to victory over Dortmund at Wembley last May. Arsenal are still waiting to lift European football’s most coveted trophy, with Bellingham potentially standing in their path this year.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been drawn against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, while Aston Villa will face Belgian side Club Brugge. If they both win their ties, Villa and Liverpool will meet in the quarter-finals. All three remaining Premier League sides are in the same half of the draw, meaning an all-English semi-final is possible too.