Rio Ferdinand picks out Arsenal duo for very high praise after Tottenham win (original) (raw)
Arsenal's backline has proved formidable in recent seasons with the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes being key to the prowess of Mikel Arteta's defence
Rio Ferdinand has praised Arsenal's defence
Rio Ferdinand has proclaimed that Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are the best defensive partnership in Europe, following the north London side's win over Tottenham.
The Gunners have kept three clean sheets in their opening four Premier League matches this term. Mikel Arteta's team have navigated their way to unbeaten start after Gabriel's goal secured Arsenal's third win of 2024/25.
The Brazilian defender has developed a formidable partnership alongside Saliba and Arsenal's backline has proven stingy. Arsenal's defensive prowess appears to have continued from last term where they earned a league-high 16 clean sheets in the top-flight.
Ferdinand has been very impressed by the defensive duo's contribution to that. The former Manchester United defender believes the pair are perfectly suited to complementing each other.
"I think they are the best pairing in Europe," Ferdinand said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel. "They complement each other, their styles are perfect for each other. A good mix and blend.
“Saliba had a 97 per cent completion rate of his passes and, in all the other defensive stats, Gabriel was top. So that blend, you can see it there in the data."
Ferdinand believes the partnership works, for similar reasons he was able to work alongside Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United. “I just think they can both do what the other one can do as well," he added.
William Saliba and Gabriel have developed into a formidable partnership (
Image:
Catherine Ivill)
"That’s what was so good about me and Nemanja as a partnership. If one is good at something and one is good at the other, you can still blend what you do.
"But I just love the way (they play together). Gabriel specifically in that second half (against Spurs), the blocks, the timing was perfect. And the way that Saliba celebrated Gabriel was telling as well; ‘It ain’t about me, I don’t need to be the star man’.
"They are sharing that spotlight. And, for a partnership to be successful, you need that, 100 per cent. That’s the scary thing for other teams."
Rio Ferdinand even drew comparisons with his own partnership alongside Nemanja Vidic (
Image:
REUTERS)
Ferdinand was not alone in praising Arsenal's duo, with Alan Shearer labelling them 'magnificent'. The ex-Newcastle United forward praised the entire defence's contribution against Spurs however.
He said: "When you go one goal behind against this Arsenal team you have got to do something special to get back because it’s very very tough. They’ve got the best back four in the Premier League there is no doubt about that. The way they operate, the way they work, they way they are protected."
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