Joao Pedro of Chelsea heaps praise on Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, calling him the toughest defender in the Premier League. Pedro, a Brazilian striker who recently joined Stamford Bridge for his first season in England, admitted to being shocked by the defender’s constant excellence and dominant displays, referring to his games as “inspired”.
The 24-year-old Pedro has come up against several elite defenders during his career throughout Europe, but it was the Arsenal centre-back’s ability to sniff out attacks and nullify the opposition that stood out in his experience during the 2025-26 season. Talking to TNT Sports Brazil, the striker revealed that Magalhaes’ position on the field was so intuitive that it felt as if the defender could predict Pedro’s next move.
Pedro singled out his pace, combined with his physicality, as his greatest strength. “Every time I thought I had space, he was already there. It felt like he knew what I was going to do before I did it,” said the Brazilian.
While it’s Magalhaes’ imposing frame of 6’3 and aerial prowess that stands out for many, it was his pace in recovery that was truly the most noticeable element for the Chelsea striker. Pedro felt there was a certain amount of pace to Magalhaes that even allowed the striker, upon thinking he had moved past the Brazilian defender with speed, It’s frustrating as a striker because you feel like you’ve done everything right and he still manages to recover,” stated the forward.
Arsenal’s strong defensive record has been a key part of their league campaign, as they have only conceded 26 goals in 36 matches. Pedro sees Gabriel as the figurehead for the Gunners’ defence and stated it was his blend of passion and composure that made it so difficult to breach. “He plays with so much passion, but he is also very controlled. As a striker, you want defenders to make mistakes, but he does not give you one second to breathe. He is like a wall.”
Arsenal remain top of the Premier League after beating West Ham, five points clear of Manchester City with 79 points to City’s 74 and a game in hand. The Gunners must win their final matches against Burnley and Crystal Palace to secure their first league title in 22 years. Their defensive strength, led by Gabriel Magalhaes, has been key, with his mix of power and smart positioning making him one of the standout performers this season.
During the season, he has faced a whole range of different centre-backs from across the top European leagues, but admits that it has been the Brazilian’s instinct that has been hardest to overcome. “I have played against many great defenders in Europe, but Gabriel is the one who has made me think the most this year.
Magalhaes’ development under Mikel Arteta and the revitalisation of the Arsenal defense, which is one of the strongest in Europe on a number of statistics, demonstrates the development in the team and their leader at the back. Despite an impressive introduction to Chelsea, Pedro’s praise for Magalhaes indicates how much they have been struggling in front of goal as they have come up against such an impregnable defense.
