Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have quickly built one of the most admired centre-back partnerships in the Premier League, and their impact at Tottenham has not gone unnoticed.
While Arsenal’s defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes has been lauded across Europe, former Spurs midfielder Sandro has made it clear that his loyalties lie firmly with the duo wearing white in North London.
He believes Romero and van de Ven bring something special to the league something that, in his view, places them above even Arsenal’s celebrated pairing.
In an interview with football.london, Sandro was asked directly whether Spurs currently boast the best defensive partnership in the Premier League. Without hesitation, he backed his former club’s centre-back pairing, praising the balance, speed, and intelligence they bring to Ange Postecoglou’s side.
He highlighted van de Ven’s remarkable pace and calmness on the ball, noting that even though the young defender made a mistake in the defeat to Chelsea, such errors are part of the game. What truly matters, he argued, is the consistency and quality van de Ven shows week after week.
But Sandro reserved his strongest praise for Cristian Romero. The Argentine has long been viewed as an emotional and aggressive defender, one capable of both brilliance and chaos. Sandro believes the chaotic part of Romero’s game has softened, and that the Spurs vice-captain has matured significantly this season.
He spoke about Romero’s leadership, his growing sense of responsibility, and the way he manages games. He admired the defender’s communication with referees, midfielders, and teammates, describing him as a “proper leader” who now reads the game better and avoids the reckless challenges that once earned him unnecessary bookings.
According to Sandro, Romero hasn’t abandoned his aggressive style he has simply refined it and learned when to step back.
Sandro’s perspective stands in direct contrast to Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who has repeatedly claimed that Saliba and Gabriel are the best defensive duo in Europe, not just the Premier League.
Many pundits support that view, pointing to Arsenal’s remarkable defensive record that has seen them concede just five goals in the league this season.
Rio Ferdinand has echoed Keown’s assessment, praising the balance and complementing styles of the Arsenal pair and insisting they set the benchmark for defensive excellence in Europe.
Even so, Sandro remains firm in his belief that the Tottenham duo deserve to be considered the top partnership in the division. For him, the blend of Romero’s leadership and aggression with van de Ven’s speed and intelligence gives Spurs a defensive foundation as strong as any in the country.
He sees growth, maturity, and potential in their combination qualities he believes are sometimes overlooked in favour of Arsenal’s more widely recognised pairing.
The debate between the two camps will soon have the chance to play out on the pitch. After the international break, Tottenham and Arsenal meet on Sunday, November 23, in a fixture that promises not only the usual North London rivalry but also a direct battle between the league’s most talked-about centre-back partnerships.
With both clubs boasting strong defensive records and ambitions at the top of the table, the clash will offer a perfect opportunity to determine which pairing truly stands above the rest.
