AFTER Arsenal’s 1-0 victory against Tottenham, Gary Neville was full of praise for William Saliba and Gabriel.
The Sky Sports pundit compared the duo to legendary Gunners pair Tony Adams and Steve Bould.
Realistically, it is always difficult to weigh up players from different eras of football to changes in tactics.
When Adams and Bould were at their best, central defenders’ main responsibilities were to win their duels – now they have to be progressive ball players too.
It is more likely that Neville was making a comparison between the importance and leadership that the two partnerships have brought to their teams.
From a modern perspective, Saliba and Gabriel are centre-backs who compliment one another perfectly.
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But the interesting thing is that from an individual perspective both of them are capable of playing different roles.
Essentially, central defenders can be labelled as being either proactive or reactive.
In other words, do they want to get tight and look to challenge and win the ball back quickly or do they prefer to sit off to defend space and prevent the opposition from playing around or through them?
Both of Arsenal’s current duo are capable of performing either role.
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They are also comfortable when asked to defend deep and protect their penalty area and they are capable of playing out from the back to help Arsenal to build attacks.
SunSport take a look at what makes Saliba and Gabriel really stand out.
Well-rounded defenders
While Saliba and Gabriel are both physically imposing defenders – Saliba is 6’3 and Gabriel is 6’2 – they are also versatile and mobile with the capability to play and defend in different ways.
They are both more than capable of defending proactively when they are asked to stick tight to the opposition in a more physical manner.
In these situations you will see either of the two central defenders tight against the opposition striker.
Typically, one will defend in this way while the other eats up space and covers ground to protect his team-mates.
Given that there is now a general tendency among teams to play with a lone striker, it allows Arsenal to have one central defender tight and the other drop in space.
There are times in which a striker will look to move and isolate himself against the defender that is less comfortable and effective when defending tight.
This is rarely possible against Arsenal as both centre-backs are comfortable when asked to defend tightly.
As Man Utd’s Alejandro Garnacho drives forward last season – it is Saliba who comes across to time his challenge and win the ball while Gabriel is positioned to provide cover behind.
Having two defenders like Saliba and Gabriel is therefore a huge advantage as they both have the mobility to cover space and the ability to read the game and identify threats from the opposition before it can really develop.
The Brazilian is quick to jump and attack the ball in the opposition half to win possession.
Having players like Saliba and Gabriel allows Arsenal to defend in a variety of different ways and to react to the threat from the opposition.
Doing the basics well
Essentially, the job of the central defenders in any team is to protect the goal and the penalty area.
This is the aspect of the game that Adams and Bould would have been mostly judged on when they were at their peak.
Modern football has evolved and defenders must be comfortable in possession – but their bread and butter is still the ability to defend their area.
Again, this is an area of the game where both Saliba and Gabriel are fantastic.
They are both big and physical enough to defend the area against crosses and passes played into the box.
But they are also intelligent defenders who understand how to position themselves to defend space when the opposition play the ball wide.
As the opposition attacker has the ball on the right, they look to cross to the far side of the Arsenal area.
Saliba is positioned well and he wins the aerial duel with ease.
Central defenders have to be comfortable defending tightly against strikers in the area.
Crucially, however, the player who is in space has to understand how to defend the front and back post and to attack the ball when it is played into the box.
This is an area, again, where Saliba and Gabriel thrive.
They both know how to position themselves to cut off the most dangerous positions and angles for the crosser.
Comfortable in possession
The likes of Adams and Bould could never have been described as ball-playing defenders – but they were effective enough in possession for an Arsenal side who attacked in a direct way.
Under Mikel Arteta, we have seen Arsenal create a system with a slower and more deliberate build-up.
In these situations, the central defenders have an important role but they are not expected to over-play.
They tend to play short and in a set pattern to get the ball out.
Both central defenders also have the ability and the freedom to play longer passes when sensible.
The ability of Saliba and Gabriel to do a range of passes offers Arsenal flexibility to do different things in order to break down teams that want to defend in tight blocks.
Given that both central defenders are good in possession and capable of playing longer passes, we see the opposition struggle to press Arsenal.
If they look to get tight to one of the two central defenders then the ball can be moved to the other and Arsenal can play from there.
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Legends in the making
Given the importance of Saliba and Gabriel to the success of this Arsenal side, it is easy to see why Neville drew comparisons between them and legends of the club’s past.
There is little doubt that if Arsenal go on and clinch the Premier League title this year then there is no doubt they will be vital to that success.
Arsenal ratings vs Spurs as Gabriel is the hero in feisty North London derby
GABRIEL headed in the only goal of the game as a depleted Arsenal snatched all three points in the North London Derby.
Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the Gunners players…
DAVID RAYA – 8/10
Commanded his area well, and was a safe pair of hands throughout the game. Another great showing in what has been a spectacular start for the Spanish stopper.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Did well from an attacking perspective, charging down the left hand side on various occasions. Solid defensively too against Spurs’ flying right side of Johnson and Porro.
Some would argue he should’ve been sent off for a challenge on Pedro Porro in the first half, but he escaped despite squaring up to Vicario in the aftermath.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 8
A really good recovery challenge in the first half to deny Dominic Solanke, despite being booked early on.
You can always count on Saliba to put in a solid display, and he didn’t disappoint today with fantastic passing out from the back too.
GABRIEL – 9
A fantastic defensive showing throughout, reinforced with a towering header inside the box to give his side the lead from a set piece (shock).
Has formed an impeccable partnership with Saliba, personified by their heartwarming celebration together after the opener. He’s the man.
BEN WHITE – 6
Gave away the ball in a dangerous position in the first half, with Solanke failing to capitalise and had a tough first half against the quick feet of Heung Min-Son.
Was not able to demonstrate the dangerous right-hand side overlap we saw work so effectively last season, but wasn’t threatened in the second 45.
JORGINHO – 4
Struggled to replace the suspended Declan Rice for this North London derby, whom the Gunners really missed.
A tough task, but didn’t come close to matching Rice’s intensity or ability to drive the ball up the pitch which left Arsenal weak in the forward areas.
THOMAS PARTEY – 5
Struggled in transition with Jorginho alongside him, another player who felt the full force of no Rice and Odegaard.
Not fast enough with or without the ball, and will need to perk his ideas up for City next week.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Looked like a bright spark with his running and forward movement, but was let down by his end product or lack thereof.
Worked really really hard throughout, just looks short of confidence in the last actions.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Dropping deeper into more of a midfield role than he’s used to today, it should be noted that he did a job for the team when they needed him.
Not the flying efficiency machine we have seen him be from the bench, but his versatility will be needed this season it seems.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Didn’t make the kind of impact on the game we are used to seeing from the brilliant Bukayo Saka, and looked less of a threat without Martin Odegaard to combine with.
Did some really good defensive work nonetheless, and delivered the perfect corner to claim the assist for Gabriel’s opener.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
A good header in the first half was saved well by Vicario in the spurs net – actually made more clearances (3) than he managed shots on target (2) in the first 45.
Was a handful for the Spurs defence, but largely nullified by the pace and power of Mickey Van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
