Arsenal: 3 standout players from Chelsea win

Even the most optimistic fans would not have expected to see the shift that the Arsenal players put in against Chelsea.

Thoughts of a point, much less a Premier League win, were regarded as wishful thinking. When faced with a momentous task, however, Arsenal came to play.

A shift in system combined with some sloppiness remnant from the last three games led to a shaky opening period. Arsenal did eventually grow into the game, though, displaying some exciting counterattacks, fluid build up play and resolute defending.

Plaudits will always go to the entire team after such a tough test. It was a collective victory as much as it anything.

Arsenal: 3 standout players from Chelsea win as Mikel Arteta’s side keep Premier League top four hopes alive with 4-2 success

But despite the team spirit and togetherness, there are some players who stood out as Mikel Arteta’s men wrestled themselves back into the top four conversation.

1. Gabriel

Conceding six goals in three games before Chelsea is not a true indicator of the improvement seen in Arsenal’s defense this season.

New players have certainly come in and done their part; Benjamin White, Ramsdale and Tomiyasu have all been integral to keeping clean sheet after clean sheet. Although Arsenal could not shut out Chelsea, there was a solidity that has been rare to come by, especially in the second half.

Gabriel played a huge role in that.

He met every physical challenge that Chelsea threw at him exceptionally well. The Blues have a variety of attacking players with different threats. Lukaku offered a more traditional striker presence, trying to back into the defenders and pin them. Havertz and Ziyech can provide pacy goal threat.

Gabriel dominated every single one of them. After a shaky few matches where the Brazilian in particular has been in question, this was an encouraging performance indeed.

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