Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli was asked to pick the toughest defender who he’s played against in the Premier League but didn’t go for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Gabriel Martinelli has named Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate as a more difficult opponent than Virgil van Dijk, appearing to agree with a former Arsenal star.
Konate, 25, joined Liverpool from German side RB Leipzig in 2021 for £36million, making a strong first impression forging a strong partnership with Van Dijk. Within the pairing, Reds captain Van Dijk is widely considered to be the superior defender, having helped Liverpool win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup during his six years at Anfield.
But when picking his two toughest defenders to play against one-v-one, Martinelli told Men in Blazers: “It has to be [Kyle] Walker (of Manchester City) and Konate from Liverpool. They are both tough to beat.”
His comments echo those of ex-Arsenal defender William Gallas, who believes that fellow Frenchman Konate has now eclipsed Van Dijk. “Right now, I think the best defender in the Premier League this season is Ibrahima Konate,” Gallas told Prime Casino. “At this moment in time, on current form, it has to be Konate. He improved a lot from last season. He’s very solid.
“But I’ve seen some of his games now and it looks like nobody wants to challenge him. When you have that aura, that presence, that’s magnificent for a defender to have. I’m sure most strikers or wingers don’t want to play against him. They don’t want to have the challenge against Konate.”
Gallas even noticed Martinelli’s struggles against Konate during Arsenal’s recent 2-2 draw with Liverpool. The Brazilian played 85 minutes but came away without a goal or assist.
“When Liverpool played at the Emirates, Martinelli didn’t want to challenge him,” Gallas continued. “He already knew he was going to lose that duel. Konate if he continues like this, will be the best. He will be in the starting 11 for the Premier League team of the year.”
Get involved! Who’s better right now – Ibrahima Konate or Virgil van Dijk? Tell us your pick in the comments section.
Konate’s place in the team wasn’t assured at the start of the campaign, with 21-year-old Jarell Quansah getting the nod on the opening day against Ipswich Town. But after a difficult first half, new manager Arne Slot made a change and brought Konate on.
The France international has kept his place ever since and former Man City defender Micah Richards has praised the decision. “I think Konate has been really good for [Slot],” Richards declared on The Rest is Football podcast.
“Don’t know if you remember at the start of the season that he started Quansah who wasn’t aggressive enough. [Slot] was a leader in saying, ‘okay, no problem, you come off, I’m going to put Konate on’. He started winning all the headers and he stayed in a team.”
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