Chelsea legend Gary Cahill has praised former Arsenal player David Luiz and stated that he was ‘one of the best’ defenders on the ball during his time in the Premier League.
The multiple Premier League winner was naming his best five-a-side team of players he has shared a dressing room with and he put forward David Luiz’s name.
The duo played alongside each other at Chelsea, before Luiz would, later on, represent Arsenal in his career, which didn’t exactly go to plan – Jamie Carragher had some very harsh words to say about the player during his time at the Emirates.
In 2019, under the stewardship of Unai Emery, the Brazil star was signed up by the club, before he left in 2021 when Mikel Arteta was in charge.
Whilst Luiz had the experience and could entertain like a playmaker from the back, he wasn’t what Arsenal needed at the time and he was rightfully moved on – Young French star William Saliba is now showcasing what was needed.
But, during his days at Stamford Bridge, he won the European Cup and that’s why he was included by Cahill in his best five-a-side team, as he told LADbible TV.
“He (Luiz) is probably one of the best on-the-ball centre-backs that I have probably played with,” said Cahill. “He can pick a pass from anywhere.
“His ability to step out with the ball. And his character. He was always a big joker, so in a five-a-side team, you need a bit of character in there. He is certainly that.
On if Luiz was underrated: “When you say underrated, just look at his career and what he has done. I don’t see how he can be underrated. Sometimes people have opinions. At the time, he was quite a flair player for a centre-back. He sometimes took chances. Sometimes he got away with it, then he didn’t.
“Nonetheless, he was his own personality and a massive player. If you look at his career. The caps for Brazil and the trophies won – I think his career speaks for itself.”
DAVID LUIZ THE ENTERTAINER
It’s pretty simple, Luiz will point towards his trophies as proof that he was a success in English football and during his career.
But the simple fact is that he was a very forward-thinking defender and that could sometimes land him in a spot of bother.
Perhaps he would have been better suited to playing in midfield more often, but one thing is for sure, he entertained during his time on the pitch.
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