Arsenal: Gabriel Paulista Relevance Increasing Rapidly

Arsenal normally rock out with Kostafi holding down the back line, but Gabriel Paulista may well be returning into the spectrum unexpectedly.

Arsenal’s defensive solidity looked to be incredibly strong this season. Between the Kostafi partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi and the back-up partnership of Rob Holding and Gabriel Paulista, there is a quad of solidity.

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Then you have to include Calum Chambers return as well as Per Mertesacker’s intelligence on the pitch. There is a lot to be excited about here.

But the lines are pretty clearly cut. Kostafi first and far and away foremost. Gabriel and Holding are next and then the rest of the guys are scattered about in the bottom ranks. However, after seeing Gabriel fill in for Mustafi during the German’s injury, we have to start thinking about putting Gabriel more in the conversation for the top two spots.

This isn’t because I’m hitting the panic button on Kostafi. That is clearly still the big time crew, but seeing him struggle and remembering the stability that Gabriel provided in the clutch has me thinking that perhaps Gabriel should be more seriously considered for the spot.

A change isn’t coming, nor does it seem likely, not unless Mustafi can’t recover his previous form. But Gabriel is definitely knocking.

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One thing we really have to remember is that Gabriel was purchased in January of 2015 to be that man. He was supposed to be what Mustafi has become. The only thing that really got in his way was injuries. He was perfectly capable when he put a healthy string of matches together and his athleticism and intensity was out of this world.

The only thing he needed was a consistent string of matches, which eluded him again when he was in his crucial 2015/16 season, rotating with Per Mertesacker.

It’s only appropriate that he is only truly clicking now that he has the sternest competition ever in his way.

This man is a competitor though and the better his communication gets, the more his relevance will continue to increase. He filled in for Mustafi masterfully and provided no setbacks, even in the consecutive losses. Very little of what occurred in those two matches could be pinned on Gabriel.

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For once, I’m not scared to look into the future of this defense when Koscielny is gone. Gabriel has long been touted as almost too similar to the Frenchman, but that is a good thing when you are his replacement.