Arsenal have been known for their free-flowing attacking football since the Arsene Wenger era, playing some of the finest football you could see in Europe.
The Gunners brought some exceptional football to England under Wenger and that reputation has continued even after his departure.
Unai Emery didn’t quite fit that mould but Arsenal now have one of Wenger’s former midfield star in charge in Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard has brought some excellent football to the Emirates Stadium with Martin Odegaard’s creative brilliance making the team tick.
Yet whilst many have suggested that Arsenal have had a soft centre over the years, that is no longer the case under Arteta.
Arsenal have arguably become the gold standard for defending in the Premier League and that blend of on-ball and off-ball excellence leaves Arsenal top of the Premier League table.
The title is in sight for Arsenal, but Liverpool and Manchester City are right behind them, meaning Arteta and co face a tricky few weeks in pursuit of a first title since 2004.
Gabriel Jesus hails Arsenal duo
Arsenal have kept clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League games and in seven of their last 11 Premier League games.
The Gunners have conceded just four Premier League goals since the turn of the year and they are giving up just 8.4 shots per game.
This is a simply outstanding record and the key players at the heart of this form are William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
We knew that Saliba had immense potential and he has continued to build on a strong campaign from last season.
Gabriel has now really taken his game to another level and has arguably been alongside Virgil van Dijk and Saliba as the very best centre backs in the top flight this season.
The Brazilian is coming in for huge praise now and compatriot Gabriel Jesus has joined in.
Speaking at his press conference this afternoon, as captured by Beanyman Sports, Jesus admitted that it’s ‘hard’ to play against Saliba and Gabriel in training.
Jesus called both players ‘tough’ and ‘strong’, but admitted some Arsenal players do go past them in training – even if he doesn’t want to hamper their confidence ahead of facing Bayern Munich.
“It’s hard, it’s hard! They are tough, they are strong,” said Jesus. “It’s hard to pass them but sometimes we pass them – but I don’t want to kill their confidence for the game,” he added.
Gabriel and Saliba now looks like bargains
What’s interesting is that Arsenal arguably now have the best central defensive partnership around after both players were questioned.
Arsenal paid £27million to sign Gabriel from Lille in 2020 and not everybody was convinced in recent years.
Gabriel was viewed as being rash and error-prone at times but he has really kicked on and that deal now looks like a bargain.
It’s a similar story with Saliba, who also cost £27million from Saint-Etienne in 2019 but stayed on loan with the French side.
Saliba had to wait until 2022 for his Premier League debut and some wondered whether he would ever make the grade in London having been sent on loan to Nice and Marseille.
The Frenchman is now being tipped as one of the next great centre backs and is already one of the Premier League’s very best.
The pair cost £54million combined but Arsenal would surely demand much, much more than that for each player having seen them form an exceptional partnership.
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