Saliba could dominate Europe for years! Arsenal winners, losers and ratings as Aubameyang flops for Chelsea on Gunners reunion

Gabriel Magalhaes

He’s one of the few Arsenal players to have come in for some criticism this season, so this was a big day for Gabriel. Both he and William Saliba were exceptional in the heart of defence, limiting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to just eight touches while he was on the pitch. And at the other end, Gabriel popped up with the game’s vital intervention, getting on the end of Bukayo Saka’s corner to prod home his second goal of the season. There are few defenders with the natural ability of Gabriel, and when he plays as well as he did here, he is undoubtedly one of the best centre-backs in the country.

William Saliba

Chelsea have one of the greatest centre-backs of his generation in Thiago Silva. But in Saliba, Arsenal have a central defender who looks like he has what it takes to dominate Europe for years to come. The France international was simply sensational at Stamford Bridge. He barely gave Aubameyang a kick. And then when Armando Broja came on to offer a more physical presence, the Arsenal centre-back dealt with him with ease. Saliba cruised through the game with the class of a defender who has been operating in the Premier League for years, rather than a matter of months. What a talent.

Mikel Arteta

This was a third win in a row for Arteta at Stamford Bridge. A ground that used to hold torrid memories for Arsenal has suddenly become the Gunners’ playground. After the defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season, questions still remained about Arsenal’s ability to perform against the Premier League’s top sides, even with their excellent start to the campaign. So this was a huge result for Arteta. Not only did it see them move back to the top of the table, but psychologically this will have done wonders for the Spaniard’s young side.