Arsenal: 4 key tasks for Gabriel this season

2. Keep Improving With Communication

The great thing about football is that it’s a language every can speak. It’s universal.

Getting by on the pitch with a few key words and phrases – William Saliba said the first word he learnt to use at Arsenal was ‘squeeze’ – you don’t need a vast grasp of English to get by in the Premier League.

It does help, though.

Gabriel didn’t speak a word of English when he moved to Arsenal and a year on he has definitely made strides, yet with a new partner who is set to be his comrade in the vast majority of fixtures this season, building on his communication skills (aside from the language there are a few issues with this on the pitch, too) is vital.

Not least with Arsenal wanting to adopt a higher line this season. Those extra few yards up the pitch demand absolute focus and chemistry between defenders at all times. Forging that understanding only comes with hours in training and minutes on the pitch.

Gabriel and White will be instrumental to how Arsenal play this season and the sooner they bond as a pairing the sooner Arteta can get the platform his side needs to let the creative players sing. Balancing brawn and brains with White, complementing each other in the right ways, is crucial.

Continued…