Real Madrid star names Arsenal centre-backs as the best in the world

You'd say Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger knows a thing or two about defending, and the German has hailed Arsenal's two standout centre-backs among the best in their position.

William Saliba and Gabriel have developed an outstanding partnership at the heart of Mikel Arteta's defence in north London. The pair helped Arsenal to the best defensive record in the division, with Saliba's remarkable recovery abilities complementing Gabriel's aggression wonderfully.

Recent media talk has thrust the duo into the conversation of being the best centre-back partnership the Premier League has ever seen. Frank Lampard, speaking ahead of Arsenal's 2-0 win over PSG on Tuesday, was quick to put cold water on that debate given the great tandems that have come before Arsenal's current pair.

Right now, though, you'd find it hard to make an argument for Saliba and Gabriel not being the world's best centre-back partnership and Real Madrid's Rudiger seems to agree.

Antonio Rudiger waxes lyrical over William Saliba & Gabriel; would love Real Madrid to sign French star

The German may have never been the most consistent performer at Chelsea, but he was excellent during his final season in west London and has blossomed into one of the world's best defenders in the Spanish capital. He played a key role in the club's success last season given the injuries Carlo Ancelotti was forced to deal with in defence.

Rudiger was recently asked on the Inside Scoop podcast (via The Football Faithful) who he thought the best defenders in the game were right now, and the 31-year-old quickly name checked the Arsenal pair and credited the two for the club's rise under Arteta.

“Saliba [is a centre-back at the top level]. I like Gabriel from Arsenal as well. If you see Arsenal, the two centre-backs that are playing together, since two years now they’re doing an amazing job," the German international said.

“The transformation from Arsenal that was a bit before now, those two are the pillar of it."

Rudiger added that the "clean" Saliba is the "silent leader" of the Gunners' stout backline and said he's the centre-back he'd love to see Madrid sign further down the line. There are murmurs of the club's interest in the Arsenal star, but the Spanish giants would undoubtedly have to pay a record-breaking fee and some for the Gunners to even consider the sale of their superstar defender.

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