Former Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has found form once again this season but he’s conceded that it’s a current Gunner he finds it hard to play against.
Welbeck enjoyed a decent spell with Arsenal after leaving Man United and has gone on to thrive at Brighton. Most weeks, he is a nuisance for any Premier League defender with his pace and movement.
However, when it comes to facing Arsenal, he’s admitted that giant centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is a nightmare.
If you could only pick one of William Saliba and Gabriel to stay at Arsenal forever, who are YOU picking and why?
Danny Welbeck admits Gabriel Magalhaes is the hardest defender to play against
The defensive partnership of Gabriel and Saliba this season has been off the scale good. As it stands, they’re on course to lead Arsenal to a record season.
Indeed, speaking about Gabriel, Welbeck conceded the Brazilian is his toughest opponent.
“The number one defender when you see him in the opposition line up you think this guy is going to annoy me,” Welbeck said when discussing Gabriel.
“For me it would probably be Gabriel, he’s really aggressive, strong, fast, he’s up for the fight, up for the duel. The last game I played against him he really got under my skin, loads of stuff happens on the pitch that nobody knows about, but he’s a top defender.”
Gabriel and Saliba have won plenty of plaudits this season and rightly so.
Arsenal have only conceded one goal in Europe all season and just the 22 in the league.
When you think that the pair cost Arsenal a total of around £54m, that means the Gunners got them both for less than Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk or Man United paid for Harry Maguire.
In terms of value for money signings, Gabriel has been one of the best of recent years.
The key now is for Gabriel to ensure Arsenal win trophies. Otherwise, all his good work and form over the last few seasons will be for nothing.
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