Saliba first signed for the Gunners in 2019 but after loan spells at Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille he broke into the first team in 2022.
Gabriel had already established himself in the middle of the Arsenal defence at that stage, having joined from Lille in 2020 and the pair quickly established an impressive partnership.
The Frenchman and the Brazilian are now as strong a centre-back pair as any in the top flight and Saliba says their relationship extends off the field.
‘He’s like a brother to me we’re very close,’ said Saliba. ‘As I always say to him, it’s as if he were French too, he has the same facial expressions as a French person because he was at Lille for a long time.
‘He’s a great guy and an incredible defender.’
The partnership has caught the eye of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher, who said earlier this season that they could go on to be rated with some of the best ever in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Gabriel and Saliba are an imposing duo
‘Provided they stay together, we will eventually reference Saliba and Gabriel in the same breath as the two stand-out partnerships of my generation; Chelsea ’s John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, and Manchester United ’s Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic,’ Carragher wrote in The Telegraph.
‘Arsenal must win the Premier League or Champions League for the duo to establish themselves in that hall of fame, but they are making giant strides and are the biggest reason why Mikel Arteta ’s side can travel to Manchester City with confidence this weekend.’
Arsenal FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League
Arsenal fans have hailed the centre-backs
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand also claimed they are the best partnership in Europe, telling TNT Sports: ‘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.’
Arsenal FC v FC Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3
William Saliba and Gabriel were together again at Wolves on Saturday
Speaking on how he brought the two players together, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said last season: ‘You just feel it when you see the partnership. Sometimes there is a chemistry between two players that compliment each other.
‘They are so happy to work with and for each other. It just flows. They really enjoy playing together and they’ve been really good.’
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