Arsenal: 4 key tasks for Gabriel this season

Arsenal supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief at the team sheet for Norwich. Equally, there will have been a lot of comforting nights of sleep knowing that next time around, touch wood, Gabriel will once again be in the heart of defence.

“(Return of the Mag) Once again..
“(Return of the Mag) Pump up the world..
“(Return of the Mag) Watch my flow..
“(You know that I’ll be back) Here I go.”

Back from a knee injury and straight into the Arsenal lineup to face the Canaries, Gabriel standing next to partner in crime Ben White brought upon a contrasting disposition. Having watched on in terror as Pablo Mari kicked the season off trying to get his contract cancelled before the window shut, some technical competence was warmly embraced.

If all goes well Arsenal not only have a centre-back pairing to be Premier League ever-presents this season, but a partnership to anchor this defence for years to come.

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4 key tasks and areas of improvement for Gabriel this season after Arsenal bring in Ben White to be his partner in central defence

Two 23-year-old defenders with all the tools to complement each other and develop in tandem, not a patched up bunch of highly limited central defenders who flutter between OK and oh dear.

Seeing an entire back five comprising of four players signed during Mikel Arteta‘s reign and one whose contract was extended means the foundation of a new-look Arsenal side can emerge.

White’s quality in possession is unarguable as he regularly fed balls into the midfield, drove in possession and switched the play as opposed to taking eight touches before passing sideways to his fellow centre-back. There was a pleasant air of David Luiz about him, which was the exact reason behind his signing. In the good sense of Luiz, though. Obviously.

Gabriel wasn’t too shabby either. One standout tackle late in the game to deny Teemu Pukki rounded off a relatively comfortable afternoon on his return from the treatment room in what is hoped to be a fruitful season.

But what tasks lay before him this campaign, and what does he need to improve on?

1. Long Distribution

There were instances last season where this stood out for all the wrong reasons. Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was one of them. Overall, however, his long ball accuracy in the Premier League last season was 65.8% – Rob Holding’s was 75.4%.

Gabriel’s long delivery being underwhelming isn’t anything new, either. From his time at Lille it was also his weakest trait and while there are occasions where it can look clean and efficient, they’re not as frequent as you’d like.

But that is a key point.

We know Gabriel can hit long balls into chest height or beyond the backline into space, it just doesn’t happen often enough. Confidence definitely plays a part as the moment the first misplaced long pass happens it’s usually followed by a few others.

Playing alongside White, someone who can pick those balls out effortlessly, will not only lessen the responsibility but also provides him with someone to learn alongside. Luiz will certainly have offered tips.

Extra minutes on the training ground this season to add this string to his bow is high up on the to-do list. It’s the undeniable weakness in his game.

Continued…

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…

3. Don’t Let Arteta Doubt Him

Mari spoke out last season about the lack of continuity in defence potentially having an impact on performances. Arteta, who has become ‘something’ of a tinkerman (wonder who he got that from) chopped and changed his team regularly, particularly at centre-back.

Luiz, Holding, Gabriel and Mari all shared minutes as the manager regularly went horses for courses.

So much of the selections are down to Arteta’s own preferences, and this season is time for him to put some faith and trust into his £27m man regardless of whether there are mistakes or not, but Gabriel also has to offer his gaffer no reason to think differently.

Consistency in his displays, offering the physical dominance he has over other options at the club, has to be aimed for if he’s to cement his place in this team. Fans have the back four that played as their preferred defence, just as Arteta will, so it’s on Gabriel to make that shirt his. Don’t let Mari anywhere near it.

He’s got a pretty decent head start, in fairness.

The fighting spirit was on show as he made a brilliant late challenge on Pukki, and sustaining that level throughout the season has to be his aim. There were clear drop offs in form for the 23-year-old last season (partly due to rotation) – those need to be ironed out.

Continued…

4. Maintain His Goal Tally of 3 Last Season

After netting on his Premier League debut against Fulham, Gabriel followed that up with another fine header in the defeat to Wolves before topping both of those with a majestic, soaring effort in the Europa League against Olympiacos.

No overstating, that was a fabulous header. And, looking across the team, there is nobody who can do that. That’s worrying.

Is White dangerous in the air? Considering Arsenal signed a right-back to help cover his deficiencies in that department, you’d argue no. As for the midfielders, no again. Up top? Alexandre Lacazette can score with his head so long as it’s on a plate and six foot off the ground.

There really is no player in the team who poses an aerial threat in the opponents box. None bar Gabriel.

Without any shadow of a doubt, some atrocious set piece routines and appalling deliveries don’t help. This is now the second set piece specialist who can’t make Arsenal lay a glove on the opposition from dead balls.

While nobody is insisting that Gabriel should double his tally this term, when corners and free-kicks are won it should be him screaming for the ball on his forehead. He is the best outlet in those situations and set pieces need to be designed around getting him involved just as they used to be about finding Luiz at the back post to nod one back in.

Having got three last term Gabriel should be aiming for similar this time around. It’s a part of his game that is unique to many others in the squad. Finding way to maximise that trait are needed from those around the Brazilian, while he should be the one taking the bull by the horns when the ball comes in.