Arsenal centre-backs and Gabriel have forged a brilliant partnership for the Gunners, catching the eye of defender .
The Frenchman and the Brazilian have proved to be a rock solid combination at the heart of ’s defence, a huge part of turning Arsenal into Premier League title challengers.
Gabriel has also added a goal threat to his game, heading in key goals against Tottenham and Manchester City in recent weeks as the Gunners become a potent threat from set-pieces.
Former Chelsea centre-back Rudiger feels they are as good a partnership as any in the game, saying they have been the ‘pillar’ of Arsenal’s vast improvement under Arteta.
‘Saliba and I like Gabriel from as well,’ Rudiger said on the Inside Scoop . ‘If you see Arsenal, like the two centre backs who are playing together, they are doing since two years now, they’re doing an amazing job.
‘Like the transformation from Arsenal, that was a bit before and now, and those two are the pillar of it.
‘You have with Gabriel the more aggressive leader and for example Saliba is, this brother plays clean. No, really, you have to give it to him. You know, he looks like a silent leader.’
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has also been impressed by the Arsenal pair, but feels they have a lot to do before they can be compared to truly great Premier League centre-back partnerships.
Asked whether Gabriel and Saliba were comparable with Terry and Carvalho, Lampard told Amazon Prime: ‘No, not yet.
‘If they go and win two or three Premier Leagues and a Champions League then maybe you can compare them.
‘Listen, I’m not putting them down. They are fantastic, young and they’re growing all the time. It’s not fair to make that comparison because this is all ahead of them. But at this point, no.
‘But what they’re doing at the minute is great things. But yeah, win some stuff, boys, and you can get in that conversation fully.’
Arsenal hero Ray Parlour agreed, telling talkSPORT: ‘I’ll go with Frank. At the moment they are the best pairing.
‘It’s longevity isn’t it? If they can do it season-in, season-out then absolutely.’
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