“Win Some Titles First!” – Frank Lampard Weighs In on Gabriel and Saliba Comparison to Terry and Carvalho

Despite Saliba and Gabriel's growing influence on Arsenal’s success, Lampard believes the two centre-backs still have a long way to go before they can be mentioned alongside some of the Premier League's greatest defenders.

“Win Some Titles First!” – Frank Lampard Weighs In on Gabriel and Saliba Comparison to Terry and Carvalho

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has swiftly dismissed comparisons between Arsenal’s defensive duo, Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba, and the iconic Chelsea centre-back pairing of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. Despite Saliba and Gabriel’s growing influence on Arsenal’s success, Lampard believes the two centre-backs still have a long way to go before they can be mentioned alongside some of the Premier League’s greatest defenders.

The conversation arose during Amazon Prime’s pregame coverage of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Gunners. The result marked another solid defensive performance from Saliba and Gabriel, fueling debates over whether their partnership could rival some of the best in Premier League history.

When asked if the current Arsenal duo could be compared to Chelsea’s legendary pairing of Terry and Carvalho, Lampard was quick to shut down the idea. “No. Not yet,” Lampard responded bluntly. “If they go and win two or three Premier Leagues and a Champions League, then maybe you can compare them.”

Lampard made it clear that his comments weren’t a slight on the Arsenal defenders, acknowledging their talent and potential. “I’m not putting them down,” he explained. “They are fantastic and growing all the time. It’s not fair to make that comparison because this is all ahead of them.”

However, he reiterated that Saliba and Gabriel’s current achievements don’t yet match up to the accomplishments of Terry and Carvalho. “At this point, no. But what they’re doing at the minute is great. But yeah, win some stuff, boys, and you can get in that conversation,” Lampard added.

John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho’s partnership during the 2004-05 season is often regarded as one of the greatest defensive pairings in English football history. Together, they helped Chelsea secure three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and two League Cups. Their communication and synergy on the pitch were near-telepathic, something Carvalho reflected on during a 2023 interview. “We started to know each other quickly,” he said. “Sometimes we didn’t even need to speak, it was just about looking at each other.”

For now, while Gabriel and Saliba continue to impress, Lampard believes they have much to prove before being compared to the Chelsea greats.

“Win Some Titles First!” – Frank Lampard Weighs In on Gabriel and Saliba Comparison to Terry and Carvalho

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