Ilkay Gundogan knows Arsenal well, perhaps better than most would like.
The former Manchester City midfielder earned 82 caps for Germany before retiring from international football in 2024, and was integral to the Pep Guardiola sides that denied Arsenal the Premier League title in recent seasons.
Now playing for Galatasaray, he named his World Cup best XI ahead of the tournament on his TikTok account — and two Arsenal players have made the cut.
Gundogan selected William Saliba alongside Brazil’s Marquinhos in central defence, and Declan Rice in midfield alongside Spain duo Rodri and Pedri.
🏆 Which Arsenal star will go the furthest at this summer’s World Cup?
Zubimendi and Spain? Saka and England? Saliba and France?
On his midfield trio, Gundogan said, “I think it’s a perfect mix of physicality, intelligence, and vision between them three,” he said of Rice, Rodri and Pedri, placing the Arsenal man firmly in the same bracket as two of the greatest midfielders of the modern era.
Gundogan also admitted he really enjoys watching Saliba play, and putting him in a World Cup XI is a reminder of the Frenchman’s baffling omission from the PFA Player of the Year nominees.
He is ridiculously good and we have simply become used to his standards.
Declan Rice and William Saliba are world class players
Gundogan spent eight years in total between his two stints at Man City, as well as a season at Barcelona, playing alongside and against the best players in the world.
The German has won seven league titles across his glittering career, including five Premier Leagues, and a Champions League.
A player with such standing in the game putting Rice up there with the very best is quite the endorsement.
It reinforces the glowing praise the Arsenal man has been receiving lately — from Tuchel’s ‘highest football IQ’ comment to Adam Wharton naming him in his world top three midfielders.
As for Saliba, he has arguably been Arsenal’s most consistent performer this season, keeping them watertight at the back, both domestically and in Europe.
Gundogan’s admiration for both is entirely justified.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
