Arsenal's title hopes heavily rely on Gabriel and Saliba, valued at €165 million, bought for only €56 million.

During the 19th round of the Premier League, Arsenal secured a 4-1 home victory over Aston Villa in a top-three encounter. This result put them 5 points clear with a game in hand, avenging their earlier 1-2 away defeat and halting Villa’s 11-game winning run in all competitions. Gabriel, the Brazilian defender, made his comeback as a starter and reunited with Saliba to form Arsenal’s key central defensive duo after over a month. Gabriel also scored the opening goal that broke the deadlock in this match.

According to statistics, before this game, Gabriel and Saliba started together and played full matches in five Premier League games, all of which Arsenal won with clean sheets. Based on both data and on-field performance, the Gabriel-Saliba partnership is Arsenal’s strongest asset for their Premier League and Champions League title bids this season. Especially Gabriel, who is not only a defensive rock for Arsenal but also a key aerial threat during set pieces.

• Gabriel, 28 years old, valued at €75 million, was signed by Arsenal from Lille in the summer of 2020 for €26 million. He has played 227 matches for the Gunners, scoring 22 goals and providing 8 assists.
• Saliba, 24 years old, valued at €90 million, joined Arsenal from Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2019 for €30 million. He has appeared in 153 games for the Gunners, scoring 7 goals and assisting 3 times.

Gabriel and Saliba’s combined market value now stands at €165 million, while Arsenal paid only €56 million to acquire them, making them a true double-core in central defense. As long as Gabriel and Saliba stay fit, Arsenal will be strong contenders for both the Premier League and Champions League titles this season.