Arsenal: Gabriel Paulista Shows His Most Fatal Flaw

Gabriel Paulista clipped Harry Kane for the game-ending penalty, showing his most fatal flaw throughout his Arsenal career thus far: decision-making.

There were just 74 seconds between Dele Alli’s opportunistic opener and Harry Kane’s equally opportunistic falling over to win the game-ending penalty. From an Arsenal perspective, that is utterly unacceptable and is a clear sign of their mental ill-discipline and lack of resilience and fortitude.

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And Spurs were far better than their visitors in every department on Sunday. They were quicker in possession, they were stronger in the tackle, they won every second ball and 50:50 challenge, they were sharper in the final third and stifling in their pressing game.

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It was a dominant display from Mauricio Pochettino’s men. And yet, if not for a wayward Gabriel Paulista leg, they would have entered the closing stages of the match with a slender, one-goal lead. That was the key piece of play in this match and it highlighted the fatal flaw of the Brazilian centre-half that has plagued his time in North London thus far.

Harry Kane picked the ball up on the inside left-flank, drove straight at the exposed Arsenal back line, committed Gabriel to the challenge, skipped by him, nicking the ball, directing it wide of goal, and then deliberately feigning a fall after feeling contact on his right ankle, winning the penalty. Whether it was a dive or not is a contentious and uncertain question. But the result was certain and it was thanks to Gabriel’s poor play.

When Wenger shifted to a three-at-the-back system, Gabriel was moved into the right-hand role of the three centre-halves. He excelled there in the win over Manchester City, showcasing outstanding burst to deal with Leroy Sane and a physical power that allowed him to dominate in the air and in the tackle. But while he was enjoying success in his new role and many hoped that he may develop into the domineering central defender that was initially hoped of him, consistency needed to be found for that to be the case.

For consistency to be produced, decision-making must flourish. And that is Gabriel’s biggest weakness. He suffers lapses in concentration at key moments. He is too aggressive in the tackle, committing silly fouls and leaving himself out of position. He is positionally unaware of danger and can be exposed as a result.

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That is exactly what happened on Sunday. Gabriel did not need to make a challenge for the ball. He simply needed to run Kane down the line and block the shot from what would have been a tight angle. But he made the wrong decision, displaying his fatal flaw for all to see on the very biggest stage.