The good times keep rolling on for Arsenal this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side continued their winning run against Burnley on the weekend and remain seven points clear of Liverpool atop the Premier League.
It was another convincing performance from the North Londoners, and one in which Declan Rice once again proved that he is one of, if not the best, midfielders in the league.
However, the former West Ham United captain was not the only standout performer, as another of Arteta’s men continued the Ballon d’Or-level campaign he’s having this year.
Rice’s sensational season
When Arsenal spent a club-record £105m on Rice in the summer of 2023, there was an awful lot of pressure on the Englishman.
Everyone knew that he was a sensational footballer at the time, but it’s a rare thing for someone to justify being worth more than £100m.
Fortunately for Arteta and Co, he has achieved that and more over the last two and a bit years, first shining as an out-and-out six and then transitioning more into a marauding eight.
His first two campaigns in North London were brilliant, with him producing 17 goal involvements in the first and 19 in the second, but this year, he has taken another massive step forward.
With Martin Zubimendi now in the side, Arteta has once again modified the 26-year-old’s role in the team, with him telling the press on international duty that the manager has “adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can.”
This has seen the “world-class”
international, as dubbed by journalist Tom Marshall-Bailey, spend more time in the middle of the park breaking up opposition attacks, but also then bursting forward to help create opportunities for the team.
For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 13% of midfielders in the league for touches in the middle third, and also in the top 1% for progressive carries, the top 4% for expected assists, and more per 90.
In other words, the Gunners’ monstrous number 41 is, in the words of Ashley Williams, an utterly “complete midfielder.”
Finally, on top of everything he does during open play, Rice has a shout for being the best setpiece specialist in the world, as whether it’s a corner or a free kick, he can and will drop the ball exactly where his teammates want it – just as he did against Burnley.
With all that said, there is another Arsenal star who is performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.
The Arsenal star at a world-class level
With Arsenal doing so well this season, there are several players who could be described as playing at a Ballon d’Or level.
For example, Zubimendi has hit the ground running, Jurrien Timber has been sensational in attack and defence, and Riccardo Calafiori is a joy to watch.
However, when it comes to picking Arsenal’s best player so far this year, it’s impossible to look past Gabriel Magalhães.
The Brazilian has almost entirely rid his game of the mistakes that led to some questioning him in the past, and has instead become one of the most reliable defenders in the league.
Whether the ball is in the air or on the ground, the former LOSC Lille ace always seems to know how to deal with it, and perhaps the most complimentary thing you can say about him is that William Saliba looks that little bit less assured without him in the backline.
Moreover, the 6 foot 3 “colossus,” as dubbed by Adam Keys, has made the Gunners a far more physically imposing team, as few, if any, opposition players can cope with his physicality.
So far this season, he has made 15 appearances for the North Londoners, 13 of which have been starts, playing a massive role in the side, conceding just three goals and standing a chance of beating Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 in a league campaign.
Finally, it’s not just his defensive brilliance that makes the Brazilian a world-class talent, but also his offensive prowess.
For example, his assist for Viktor Gyokeres means no other defender in the Premier League has been involved in more goals than him since his arrival in 2020.
Moreover, just this season alone, the 27-year-old has been able to score twice and provide three assists, which would be a great return for a top-quality ten, let alone a centre-back.
Ultimately, due to his outstanding defending and exceptional attacking qualities, it has become increasingly clear that Gabriel is currently performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.