Gary Lineker believes that Gabriel Magalhaes is the best centre half in world football after his goalscoring return to the Arsenal side.
Gabriel has been an integral player in Mikel Arteta’s team since arriving from Lyon for £27million in 2020, forming a rock-solid partnership with William Saliba that has made Arsenal the Premier League’s best defence over the past three seasons.
A thigh injury picked up on international duty with Brazil in November saw the 28-year-old miss nine games in all competitions for Arsenal.
But after a cameo appearance against Brighton, Gabriel returned to the starting lineup for the top-of-the-table clash with Aston Villa, getting on the scoresheet as the Gunners recorded an emphatic 4-1 win ove their title rivals.
And Lineker believes that the Arsenal star’s qualities in both boxes make him the current standout centre half in world football.
‘Gabriel, in particular, he’s a force, isn’t he?’ the former England international said on The Rest Is Football.
‘I was talking to Harry (Lineker’s son) last night when we were watching the game (against Villa) – if you had to pick one centre half from world football, I think at the moment I would go Gabriel.’
Raving about Gabriel’s current form, Alan Shearer added: ‘That desire to get on the end of balls coming into the box, set pieces, in both boxes is amazing.
‘It’s no fluke the number of times that ball lands on his end, both defending and when he has to go up and attack his own corner.
‘It’s such a great skill and technique to have what he has in both boxes, it’s amazing.’
Gabriel is one of several Arsenal players who have returned to full fitness over recent weeks to provide the Gunners with a timely boost heading into a crucial few months in the title race.
Fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus also got on the scoresheet against Villa for his first goal since a lengthy spell out with a serious knee injury.
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And Micah Richards reckons that the striker could prove a difference-maker in the title race, which is fast becoming a two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City.
‘He looks sharp again, he could be the difference between Arsenal winning the league or not,’ Richards said.
‘I watched him a lot at Man City and he never really was the main man, but he does so much for the team that maybe go unoticed. His work-rate, his press, his ability to make his own chances even though he is not clinical at times.
‘When he first went to Arsenal, he was unbelievable, unplayable at times. Then he got his injury and when he came back, he wasn’t the same. He got another injury and then he came back and was finding his feet.
‘But now, with different options and not having to rely on him for the full 90 minutes as the main main. You have Havertz, you have Gyokeres so he (Arteta) can manage his minutes and get the best out of him in the time that is required for when he is on the pitch.
‘And that is why I think he could be the difference. I think he’s got more quality than Gyokeres. He’s still finding his feet but in games this season, Gyokeres has had big chances and not taken them, but Jesus is good enough to take those chances.
‘(Kai) Havertz is back as well so I think having the three options could be the difference.’
Arsenal will look to make it five straight wins in a row on Saturday evening when they travel to face an out-of-form Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
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