Arsenal: Gabriel Paulista Delivered Important Reminder

Arsenal had to work a revolving door at right back, but it served a purpose of reminding us of Gabriel Paulista and what he can do.

With Hector Bellerin still a vital missing member of this Arsenal team and Carl Jenkinson in need of a rest, Arsene Wenger called on a once-familiar name to be his right back against Bournemouth – Mathieu Debuchy.

Related: 5 Things We Learned Against Bournemouth

The Frenchman was called in to take over for Bacary Sagna but after a series of unfortunate events, fell out of favor and then, after 15 minutes, back on the injury list. You have to pity the guy, but there is nothing else to be done about it.

In came Gabriel Paulista. The forgotten man ever since Kostafi took over and showed all of England who is boss.

However, there was a time where Gabriel was all the rage. When Wenger signed him two January’s ago, he was pegged as the next Laurent Koscielny. His aggression and passion as well as his athleticism were pretty damn awesome.

Well, it’s a little over a year later and not much has changed. If anything, he has indeed gotten better.

Gabriel had been fighting injuries and mental lapses in the time before Kostafi but could never nail down a starting spot. That starting spot could not be further away than what it is right now.

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That being said, seeing Gabriel against Bournemouth was a pleasant reminder of what the Brazilian defender is. Not only was he thrown into a situation he wasn’t supposed to be in, but it was a position he wasn’t supposed to be in either.

And yet he made then most of it. Harp on him if you want for not having the same abilities as Bellerin going forward, he still did what was required of him and then some. He was a stand-out defender and I will never stop being amazed at just how well he times his tackles. It’s simply stunning.

Just think of his tackle on Romelu Lukaku. That’s what he can do.

It was nice to be reminded of just how talented Gabriel is, and of the future that lies ahead of a Gabriel-Mustafi partnership. The former really is of the same ilk as Laurent Koscielny and can carry on where he leaves off, while Mustafi is a shoe-in for the future.

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Gabriel may even get a run in the side now at right back, with only Jenkinson competing with him.