Gary Lineker claims nobody in world football is better than one Arsenal player in his position now

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Arsenal have been earning praise from everyone in recent weeks.

The Gunners have had a brilliant start to the new season and are currently on top of the Premier League table. They have won every single game in the Champions League as well.

A number of players have impressed over the last three months, and one of them has blown Gary Lineker away – Gabriel Magalhaes.

Gary Lineker says Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes is the best defender in the world

Gabriel has had a stunning start to the new season.

The Brazil international has helped Arsenal keep nine clean sheets in 12 games and has also contributed at the other end of the pitch.

The former Lille man has scored two and assisted two goals so far this season – more than any other centre-back in Europe’s top-five leagues.

A strong argument can be made for Gabriel being Mikel Arteta’s best-ever signing at Arsenal, and he is finally earning the praise he deserves.

Lineker, who faced some great centre-backs back in the day, is now convinced that Gabriel is the best defender in the world right now.

After watching Arsenal’s win over Atletico Madrid, the pundit said on the Rest is Football podcast: “The first goal was Gabriel, and we had a little kind of mini-debate on the group chat that we have about where would Gabriel rank in terms of defenders in the world at the moment, central defenders.

“And I think we’d have him right up there. Now, he may not be the most silky on the ball compared with one or two other, perhaps playmaker-type central defenders, but we’re a bit old school, particularly Alan (Shearer) and me.

“When it comes to actually defending, and also threats in both ends, and he’s quick as well, I mean, it’s hard to think of any actually out and out better defender in world football.”

Is Gabriel Magalhaes better than William Saliba?

Gabriel and William Saliba share the best defensive partnership in world football – there is no debate about that.

The two centre-backs have been incredible for the Gunners over the last three years and are among the biggest reasons why teams have found it difficult to beat Arteta’s side.

During that period, Saliba was hailed as the better defender by many. Gabriel’s performances were often overshadowed by the Frenchman.

However, the former Lille man has been consistently brilliant, and since the start of this season, he has been better than Saliba.

So, as things stand, Gabriel is the best defender in the world. Saliba is just behind him.