“He’s a role model for most of us here and we respect him alot… I’m scared to face him tomorrow”: Man City attacker says Arsenal has a young player who’s a role model for many players in Premier League
Over the past few years, Arsenal have put together a world-class squad that has a bright future ahead.
When Mikel Arteta took the Gunners reins in 2019, they were languishing in mid-table. Now, they have challenged for the title in the past two seasons.
The rebuilding mission wasn’t an overnight job, but in 2022, things finally clicked, and Arsenal have been among the best teams in the country ever since.
Key to Arsenal’s rise has been their defence. Once a weak spot of the team, the Gunners now boast one of the best back lines in world football.
Rio Ferdinand has now delivered an emphatic verdict on the Arsenal defence, speaking after their draw at Atalanta in the Champions League.
Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal defence is among the Premier League’s best
Ferdinand believes Arsenal have the best back four in the Premier League, with centre-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes among the continent’s best pairings.
The Manchester United legend also praised Ben White and David Raya for their contributions to Arsenal’s brilliant back line.
Asked if Gabriel and Saliba were the standout pairing on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: “Yeah, definitely. I think they are. They proved that the last couple of seasons now.
“They’re resolute. They’re hard. They can do it in different ways. You’ve got a great blend. Saliba is a little bit more calm and wants to cover and sweep a little bit.
“Gabriel’s on the front foot, more of a Martin Keown type. [He’s an] aggressive-type player. They complement each other so well.
“But I want to reinforce that it’s not just about those two. You need Ben White to chip in and come inside and make it a three. Also, the goalkeeper’s [David Raya] coming into his own.”
