Arsenal: Can Gabriel Paulista Be Center Half Solution?

Arsenal are desperately short of quality at center half. While many are looking to external solutions, could Gabriel Paulista step up and become the answer?

Center half is a key weakness of this squad. It has been for the past decade, so much so, that Arsene Wenger has resorted to bringing back old legends to help provide a little defensive solidarity.

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Arsenal’s current crop, however, while certainly having their vices also have their qualities. Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have long marshaled a defense that has performed well in recent seasons. Nonetheless, at crucial times, in the big games, Arsenal old defensive frailties have reared their ugly head.

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Moreover, last season there were signs of the partnership beginning to creak at the hinges. Mertesacker’s lack of pace was beginning to catch up with him, Koscielny missed time with injuries, and it was down to Gabriel Paulista to step up to the plate.

He did so with inconsistent success. When playing with Koscielny, the Brazilian defender looked composed on the ball, excellent in the air and was easily quick enough to play in a sweeper type role. He was still overly aggressive in pursuing the ball and was repeatedly caught out of position, however, these mistakes were hidden slightly by the blessing of pace that both he and Koscielny have.

Alongside Mertesacker, however, Gabriel did not look nearly as comfortable. His positional troubles were repeatedly exposed and he was continually beat too easily trying to win the ball back, rather than simply seeing out his defensive duties. However, he showed, at times, that he has the ability to be a quality center half.

That does not mean that investment is not needed this summer. Rather, there is an internal solution to a rather precarious issue. Wenger still needs to prioritize the position before 31st August, and even if Gabriel is promoted into a starting role alongside Koscielny, quality depth is still desperately needed.

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However, while many are pining for Arsenal to find an external solution to the center half problem, Gabriel is a viable answer. Investment is still needed, but perhaps… perhaps center back is not as weak a position as first thought.