William Saliba misses out as Gilberto Silva names the two current Arsenal players who’d make an Invincibles XI

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Gilberto Silva is an excellent authority on which members of the current Arsenal squad are good enough to get into an Invincibles XI.

The Brazilian midfielder made 32 Premier League appearances in Arsenal’s record-breaking 2003/04 season, scoring four goals and providing four assists.

Nicknamed ‘the Invisible Wall’, he was an underrated cog in Arsene Wenger’s machine, often not receiving the plaudits that came the way of other Arsenal players.

His stature within the 2003/04 squad therefore provides him with a great understanding of which current Arsenal players would have made the grade, two of whom he has since named.

Gilberto Silva names Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard in his Invincibles combined XI

Speaking on Sky Sports News, the former World Cup winner was tasked with giving his Combined XI between the Invincibles side and the current Arsenal first-team squad.

The only two who made the cut were Bukayo Saka, in place of Freddie Ljungberg, and Martin Odegaard, Gilberto unable or unwilling to pick himself.

Gilberto explained his decision, stating: “I like very much Saka [and] Odegaard, the way they can make the combinations.”

Having rightfully selected Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp as his front two, Gilberto added that Odegaard’s “quality of pass” was also a factor behind his decision to include the Norwegian.

Indeed, most Arsenal fans would agree that while Odegaard hasn’t hit the same levels this season, having a more clinical striker in front of him will certainly help the Gunners captain return to his best.

Gilberto Silva favours Gabriel Magalhaes over William Saliba

With Saka and Odegaard the only two of the current crop to make Gilberto’s XI, it meant that the former World Cup winner opted for a back four of Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole.

When pressed by the presenter on whether William Saliba should have been included, Gilberto replied: “I like Saliba, but I also like Gabriel.”

He then went one step further, adding: “This could be something that I change – bring Kolo [Toure] as my assistant coach, and have Gabriel and Sol Campbell.”

It means that the former Arsenal midfielder favours his compatriot over the Frenchman.

Some Arsenal fans may also agree, Gabriel arguably as important as Saliba in Arsenal’s current backline.

Whether more important than Saliba or not, however, is beside the point. Indeed, the fact that both Gabriel and Saliba are mentioned alongside the Invincibles duo of Toure and Campbell emphasises their quality.