Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have now lifted the lid on what makes their partnership at Arsenal so successful.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are fixtures in the heart of the Arsenal rearguard.
The Arsenal defence has been in a class of its own this season. No Premier League side has conceded fewer goals. The north London club’s net has been breached just 24 times in 28 games.
Whilst credit for the Gunners’ consistent solidity must also go to the likes of David Raya, Ben White, and Declan Rice, amongst others, there can be no doubt that Mikel Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing are at the heart of this success.
There is a strong argument that Gabriel and Saliba currently represent the best such defensive partnership in the Premier League. The duo’s qualities are certainly complimentary to one another. Whilst Saliba is a silky, composed presence, his Brazilian colleague is a fiery figure, who loves to get stuck into battles with his opponents.
What makes Gabriel and William Saliba so good together at Arsenal?
They are both excellent on the ball, aerially dominant, and constantly alert to danger. As the senior and more experienced partner at 26-years-old, Gabriel has been credited with making Saliba better. It is easy to forget that the Frenchman is still just 23-years-old.
Gabriel is still young for a centre-back himself, though, and it is likely the case that both players still have their best years ahead of them. Arsenal fans and Arteta will certainly hope that this partnership endures at the Emirates Stadium for many campaigns to come.
The pair have now revealed some of the secrets behind the success of their working relationship. Speaking to Stadium Astro, Saliba stated, “I love him, he loves me, so it’s easier to play.”
Gabriel then added, “I think because we speak the same language. I speak French. I’m Brazilian, but I speak French. On the pitch it’s very important, the communication. Yeah, we are good friends, and when I need to say ‘hey, Saliba!’ [on the pitch] I say it, and he says to me as well. I think this is good for us. He understands me, I understand him.”
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes go head-to-head
There is still a healthy level of competition between them, especially when it comes to making an impact at the other end of the pitch. Both players have shown that they can pose an attacking threat. Arsenal have been extremely successful from set-pieces this season, which Gabriel, in particular, has benefitted from.
The 6-cap Brazil international has scored 14 Premier League goals for the Gunners since his arrival in the summer of 2020. No other defender has been as prolific in the top flight since his arrival. Saliba, meanwhile, has chipped in with four Premier League goals since he came into the Arsenal team at the end of last season.
He admitted that “I want to fight with him, for the goals.”
Gabriel then laughed, “you are so far [behind].”