As an Arsenal and Manchester City player, Gabriel Jesus has often come up against Chelsea.
The last time the forward was on the pitch against the Blues was in January as he helped Arsenal to beat them 3-2 in a first-leg Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
Since then, Jesus has revealed the hardest central defender he has taken on in football.
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Gabriel Jesus names Thiago Silva as toughest centre-back he’s ever faced
Jesus was recently asked to name the toughest centre-half he has gone toe-to-toe with, and the 28-year-old named former Chelsea star Thiago Silva.
In response to the question, he told Romario TV: “Thiago Silva”. Jesus and Silva were teammates for Brazil, but not too many people would claim that the Arsenal man is being biased.
Thiago Silva of Chelsea battles for possession with Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Silva is one of the greatest defenders of this generation. A lot of forwards would have given the same answer if they were handed the same question.
Silva is the kind of centre-back Chelsea need right now. Liam Rosenior does not have anyone as experienced and dominant as the Porto player.
The Blues could make a move for Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix in the summer. It has been claimed that Chelsea are monitoring Lacroix, but he is not as seasoned as Silva.
Thiago Silva’s record versus Arsenal as a Chelsea player
Silva may have been one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League during his stint in England, but he had a torrid time against Jesus’ Arsenal.
In total, Silva faced Arsenal seven times as a Chelsea player, as per Transfermarkt. He did not win any of those games! The ex-Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan star lost six of those matches and drew the other one.
Chelsea did beat the Gunners once during Silva’s spell in west London, but he was on the bench that day and never came on. Whatever the case, Silva remains an excellent defender, one of the finest of this era. How his former club could do with him now.
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