Ben White played a key part in Arsenal’s impressive display against Liverpool at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal defender Ben White has hailed the influence centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel are having on the Gunners’ season.

The form of the pair has helped Arsenal to the top of the table with the joint-best defensive record and although they did not manage to keep out Liverpool, with whom they share the record, the security they offered gave the visitors the confidence to take a positive approach in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.

A week ago a struggling Manchester United side left Liverpool with a point after a dour defensive display in which the home side had 34 attempts on goal.

By contrast Arsenal restricted Liverpool to 13, the same as they had themselves.

‘They are unbelievable together. They are so strong and powerful. They make it easier for everyone around them,’ White said of the centre-back pair.

“They just don’t do too much wrong, do they? They are so consistent every game.

‘No one is dominating them speed-wise or strength-wise. It’s hard for strikers to come up against and find anything positive to come out of the game.’

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Arsenal also benefited from their willingness to take the game to Liverpool, who had won 11 in a row at home before the United draw.

‘I think when you come here it’s so, so tough and to come away with a point is probably a positive,’ added White.

‘That’s what we have got now, we are such a positive team. We wanted to come here and win, and I think you see that from our performance.’

Gabriel scored Arsenal’s goal in a 1-1 draw at Anfield (Picture; Getty)

Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, insisted his team had passed a significant test at Anfield, particularly given the way the collapsed in the corresponding fixture last season.

The Arsenal manager said: ‘There were a few players missing last year. Big ones for us, who are really important.

‘Especially, when you have to play this type of game that they propose and you cannot get away from that type of game because they are really good at doing that.

‘But then in the last 20 minutes I think that the team was very willing to win it and they were really dominant and really wanted to go and get the three points.

‘We have the experience of being where we are today and we should be really happy because that shows a lot of consistency for this new group in the best league in the world to be there two years in a row but that’s it.

‘We are where we want to be right now, both in the Premier League and the Champions League and we all deserve a beautiful dinner tomorrow with our families but the next day we are back on it because West Ham is going to be very, very tough again.’

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