Mirror: Gabriel is one of the most aggressive central defenders in the Premier League and his value is irreplaceable

Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League. In this game, Brazilian central defender Gabriel took the lead for the Gunners. After the game, the "Mirror" wrote an article praising Gabriel, believing that he is one of the most aggressive central defenders in the Premier League and his value is irreplaceable.

In the football world, there is an old saying: A great central defender combination is the cornerstone of all great teams. Sir Alex Ferguson also once said: "Offense wins you games, defense wins you championships."

Although there are exceptions, most successful teams rely on top-notch defense. In the Premier League era, the most efficient central defender combinations include Chelsea's Terry and Carvalho and Manchester United's Ferdinand and Vidic.

Now, Saliba and Gabriel are gradually entering this ranks. In the 2004/2005 season, Chelsea's defense conceded only 15 goals, setting a Premier League record, conceding an average of 0.394 goals per game. Arsenal's goal-conceding rate this season is only 0.375 per game.

Saliba and Gabriel performed very well on the defensive end. Arsenal have conceded just three goals in the Premier League this season, two of which came when the pair did not feature together. The two complement each other on the field, with Saliba supporting Gabriel in key moments and vice versa.

Gabriel not only performed well in his own penalty area, but also posed a great threat in the opponent's penalty area. Since the 2020/2021 season, he has scored 22 goals in all competitions and is the center back with the most goals in the five major European leagues.

Saliba was once considered the focal point of Arsenal's defense, but now, both are getting the praise they deserve. Currently, Gabriel is one of the most aggressive, aerial and versatile centre-backs in the Premier League and his value is irreplaceable.