Real Madrid s right gate battle: Carvajal holds its fortress, can Arnold successfully "take the lead"?

In Real Madrid, competition at key positions has always been fierce. However, over the past decade, the right corridor of the Bernabeu has been almost exclusively the territory of Carvajal. Now, as the 2025/26 season approaches, a new era is about to begin - England international and Liverpool legend Arnold officially joins Real Madrid. What awaits him was not only glory and applause, but also an unshakable fortress - Kavajal, a merit that was almost irreplaceable.

, which seems open, but is actually closed, right-back position

Real Madrid is not without trying to introduce other right-backs to enrich the depth of the lineup, and even find a successor for Carvajal. From Danilo to Odriosora to Lucas Vazquez, they were all highly expected, but in the end they failed to truly take the main position. Some even chose to leave early after realizing that they could not replace Kavajal.

Kawajal has just recovered from a long-term injury and ended an incomplete but significant season. He made a comeback in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, showing his long-lost fighting spirit. He will focus on physical recovery in the following offseason, but it is more like preparation to rekindle his fighting spirit and defend his main position.

For Arnold, who is only 26 years old, his joining is a long-term investment by Real Madrid in the right-back position. His excellent passing ability, tactical vision and ability to create opportunities are expected to inject new offensive elements into Real Madrid.

No one questioned Arnold's ability. The question is not whether he is excellent enough, but whether he can be better than Carvajal in Real Madrid's system. What really makes Kavajal unique is not only the stable performance at the technical level, but also the "Real Madrid DNA" that has penetrated into his bones. He is a meritorious person who has stood at the top many times, a local hero from Real Madrid's youth training camp, and most importantly, he has never been absent at critical moments.

Kawajal has experienced numerous challenges since his return from Leverkusen in 2013. He once rotated with Aveloa under Ancelotti and also faced competition brought by Danilo, who was introduced at a high price. During Zidane's coaching period, he was a core member of the three consecutive Champions League titles.

Injuries made him cry, and he was forced to leave due to injury in the 2016 Milan Champions League semi-finals and the 2018 Kiev finals. But no matter what kind of hardships he goes through, he can always return strongly. Even under the trouble of repeated muscle injuries during the epidemic, he turned "eating broccoli" into a philosophy of life by thoroughly adjusting his lifestyle. Since then, muscle injuries have almost disappeared from his career.

Arnold: Can you have the "Real Madrid temperament"?

Joining Real Madrid is a brand new challenge for any player. There are many stars here who have shined in other clubs, but many people are also swallowed up by the pressure and expectations here.

Arnold has many promising qualities: the ability to attack from the backcourt, the extremely penetrating pass and the comprehensiveness required for modern football. However, relying solely on technology is far from enough to truly win the hearts of Bernabeu fans.

Kavajal is not that gorgeous full-back, but he is the teammate you want to have the most in every key battle - dare to fight, run tirelessly, and never fear any opponent. He is the embodiment of Real Madrid's spirit: tenacious, low-key, but extremely lethal.

If Arnold really wants to take over this position, he must face tremendous pressure that only those who have truly experienced it can understand. More importantly, he had to be prepared to wait - because Kavajal, he had not planned to give way.

Kawajal is preparing for the last peak season of his career, with the goal of the 2026 World Cup - an international competition he has not really participated in in his career. And for Arnold, this is his first step in a brand new and extremely challenging environment.

This right-back battle is not only a battle for position, but also a battle between experience and expectations. One is a legend who has proved with actions that he belongs to Real Madrid, and the other is a newcomer who has the mission of opening a new era.

As history has proven, defeating Kavajal has never been an easy task. For Arnold, this may be the "first difficulty" he ushered in at the Bernabeu.