Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: Reliable Pablo Mari offers Gabriel strong competition

By Ross Kennerley

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: Pablo Mari of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor on March 06, 2021 in Burnley, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: Pablo Mari of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor on March 06, 2021 in Burnley, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 2
Next
Arsenal, Pablo Mari
Pablo Mari consistency is offering strong competition for Gabriel in the left side of defence for Arsenal after another solid Premier League outing against Burnley. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

In a fixture littered with controversy, drama and frustration, certain incidents or individuals are spared to headlines not by their own accord. Pablo Mari is a fine example, having quietly had another solid afternoon for Arsenal as they could only muster a 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday.

‘The Battle For Left Centre-Back’ has been a relatively recent side narrative of Arsenal’s season, one that cropped up when regular fixture Gabriel Magalhaes contracted COVID-19 and had to deal with an extended period on the sidelines recovering.

Pablo Mari came into the side and has barely put a foot wrong. While not in playing style, there is an air of Rob Holding about him in that in top form he’ll regularly produce 7/10 performances without any of the glitz and glamour many modern centre-backs possess. Which is fine.

Football is heading in a direction where game-changers are craved in every position but the underlying requirements of a central defender are…to defend. It was torrid viewing from an Arsenal perspective but neutrals and Clarets alike will have lapped up the bodies-on-the-line shielding that Burnley produced in the final 15 minutes.

Pablo Mari consistency is offering strong competition for Gabriel in the left side of defence for Arsenal

As a consistent customer who can prove reliable in the heart of defence, Mari has silenced many doubters following his left-field move from Flamengo just over a year ago. Seeing him alongside whichever partner he’s with, you could be mistaken for thinking that he’s been involved in the Premier League longer than those 14 months. Just 12 matches in an Arsenal shirt. That’s all he’s had.

From an Arsenal point of view – one of unshakable expectancy of an inevitable meltdown – he has yet to be truly exposed. Jamie Vardy was the prime candidate to highlight his lack of pace or mobility and in the footrace he’ll have been salivating over, he came second. Excellent game-management and intelligence on and off the ball have been key to him coming through unscathed.

Mikel Arteta has now chosen Mari in two Premier League matches on the spin, having selected Gabriel Magalhaes for the crunch Europa League double-header against Benfica. Who does he prefer? What decisions will he make for Olympiacos?

Home/Arsenal News