Arsenal: 5 factors to save Mikel Arteta's job and the season

Arsenal: 5 factors to save Mikel Arteta’s job and the season

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures from the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 9, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 19, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. A limited number of fans will be allowed into Premier League stadiums as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

5. Trust Gabriel at Centre-Back This Season

With discussions understandably leaning heavily towards the new additions this summer, the returns of previous absentees are automatically viewed as rectifiers: Partey will reinforce midfield and Gabriel will immediately shore up defence.

It won’t be as smooth of a return for the Brazilian as many might have hoped for. He and White have yet to play a competitive fixture together and his knee injury has kept him out of action since early July.

Still only 23 years old, mistakes will happen over the course of the season. It’s time to trust him at central defence and stop alternating between him and Pablo Mari. With £27m worth of talent, the best course of action is to allow that ability to develop with regular minutes.

If errors occur he should be given the next match to rectify them, not be left to sit on the bench to mull over them. Arsenal will be better for having an in form and backed Gabriel. The desire to utilise a higher line with the additional pace of the two first choice central defenders will naturally produce a few hairy moments. Ride those out and let the Brazilian keep the shirt on his back all Premier League season long.

Given that White and David Luiz share many qualities it could help the partnership blossom as Gabriel was best suited to his former teammate’s skillset. Originally an investment for the future, that time is now. Play him, develop him and believe in him.

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He doesn’t need to kick a ball outside of the league and it’s time some return on that investment arrives. That’s by playing him. He’s someone Arsenal need and if Arteta can manage his development properly it will give him the base he craves to make inroads in other areas of the pitch.

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