Arsenal have one of the best defences in the world thanks to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Gunners conceded fewer goals than any other club in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, and that helped them take the title race to the final day of the campaign.
Arsenal didn’t win it, but they have built a solid foundation at the back. Saliba is probably the best defender in the world right now, but Gabriel isn’t too far behind.
Keown thinks the Brazilian is very similar to the player he was all those years ago.
What Arsenal legend Martin Keown told William Saliba about Gabriel Magalhaes
Keown was a top-class defender during his time at Arsenal.
The Englishman played over 400 games for the Gunners and helped them win several trophies, including three Premier League titles.
Saliba and Gabriel haven’t won anything yet, but we will be really surprised if they go without lifting silverware in the coming years.
The Frenchman is the one who gets all the love and praise and he completely deserves it. But, that overshadows Gabriel’s brilliance at times, which is unfair.
Keown met Saliba last season and had a chat with him. He has now revealed that he sang Gabriel’s praises in front of his centre-back partner.
Speaking on Charles Watts’ YouTube channel, Keown said: “I got to meet them both last season, they’re great lads.
“I said to Saliba: ‘If you don’t mind, I want to say some nice things about Gabriel. You’re a Rolls-Royce and everyone loves you, but I see Gabriel a bit as the player I might have been, the one who didn’t always get the credit or was as well recognised. But, Gabriel has changed that now, he has scored 16 goals from set pieces.’
“I think it’s a credit to him that he’s stood up, you can have competition in a partnership, but there has to be a togetherness.
“Gabriel is a very good one-on-one defender, maybe the best at the club.”
The latest on Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury
Gabriel limped off the pitch in the game against Liverpool at the Emirates.
The Brazilian missed the mid-week clash at Preston North End and Arsenal fans have been worried about his availability since.
Chris Sutton confidently claimed that Gabriel will be out of the game against Newcastle, but the former Chelsea man could be very wrong.
Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that Gabriel will be available if he got through the training session, and all signs point towards him starting at St James’ Park on Saturday.
That would be a big boost for the Gunners.
Gabriel, who joined Arsenal for £27 million, is one of their most important players. If he has a good game, Arteta’s men will likely come away with all three points.
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