Topics: Fan Reactions, Arsenal, Premier League, William Saliba, Jamie Carragher, Manchester City
Jamie Carragher has revealed the two Premier League centre-backs that he believes could go on to be the greatest pairing of all time.
While names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are often thrown around when discussing the greatest of all time, love is rarely shown to the best defenders in football.
The Premier League has hosted some of the greatest defenders ever to play the game and yet, they are not often considered when discussing the best-ever players.
But now, former Liverpool defender Carragher has named the one current Premier League centre-back pairing that he thinks could go on to be seen as the best that football has ever seen.
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Writing for The Telegraph, Carragher argued: "Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel are on the threshold of joining elite company.
"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."
However, the pundit pointed out one other thing that the Arsenal duo must do if they are to be regarded as of the best centre-back pairings of all time.
He added: "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."
Responding to Carragher's claim on social media platform X, one fan agreed, writing: "They really need to win something to be in that conversation though IMO. Rightly or wrongly they'll be judged on that."
But one fan disagreed, arguing that Arsenal's impressive defensive record is due to the strength of the team rather than Saliba and Gabriel.
They wrote: "They’re playing in a side that defend together. Rarely get a run at one of them isolated. When I’ve seen them isolated they’ve be found wanting."
While another fan suggested that Manchester City boasted a better pair of centre-backs in Ruben Dias and John Stones, writing: "Funny how you won't say this about Dias and Stones who've won 4 PLs and a UCL together."
