Arsenal may have secured all three points at Old Trafford on Sunday, but their performance left much to be desired. Mikel Arteta’s side edged Manchester United 1-0 thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s early header, earning just their fourth league victory at the Theatre of Dreams in the last two decades.
Despite the result, the Gunners struggled to impose themselves for large parts of the contest against a vulnerable United side. David Raya was called upon to make important saves — notably pushing away a Matheus Cunha strike in the first half and reacting sharply to deny Bryan Mbeumo after the break. Yet, according to Wayne Rooney, it was Arsenal’s centre-back pairing that truly stood out.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United captain praised William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães for their leadership and composure in the closing stages.
“Arsenal were very poor in that game as well. They came away with a one-nil victory. But I think what I would say is the two centre-backs, I thought they started a little bit shaky, actually, at the start of the game.
But then they showed the class towards the end of the game. I thought they were excellent in leading the team, getting clearances out of the box. And I think they’re going to be huge if Arsenal are going to be successful this year.”
Saliba and Gabriel Grow Into the Game
Gabriel looked rusty early on, showing signs of match sharpness still to come, but quickly found his rhythm after the interval. The Brazilian produced several key defensive interventions to snuff out United’s half-chances and keep the hosts at bay.
Alongside him, Saliba once again underlined his importance to Arsenal’s backline. The Frenchman’s calmness in possession and reading of the game gave Arsenal a defensive platform when their midfield struggled to establish control.
While Martin Zubimendi received plaudits for his work in midfield, it was the resilience of Saliba and Gabriel — coupled with Raya’s timely saves — that ultimately secured Arsenal’s narrow win.
If Arteta’s men are to mount another serious title challenge, their centre-back partnership will remain central to their hopes. Rooney’s words serve as a reminder that even on days when Arsenal fail to sparkle, their defensive solidity can make the difference.
