Arsenal benching Gabriel is the right move despite the risk

Tonight, Arsenal face Lille in the second Champions League game of the season. Mikel Arteta shouldn't be expected to make wholesale changes - this is the Champions League, after all - but Gabriel being on the bench would be a net positive for all involved.

Gabriel would hate to be benched; of course he would- he's a high achiever, after all. He wants to play every minute simply for the love of the game. It's for this reason that he's developed into one of the best defenders in the world, but Arteta needs to be cruel to be kind here.

Arsenal should play Cristhian Mosquera against Lille

Cristhian Mosquera is available for selection again, and this would be the perfect time to welcome him back to the starting lineup. He would be a welcome addition to the defence because he can slot in without jeopardising any tactics that Arteta has instilled.

Mosquera is young, and he needs game time to develop. However, that is not the only reason why he should be included - even in Arteta's meritocracy, Mosquera has done more than enough to earn a shot at placing himself back in the equation.

Last season, when the Spanish international replaced William Saliba in the starting lineup, Mosquera played excellently. He was a big reason why the Gunners were a force to be reckoned with at the back. He can do the same playing alongside Ezri Konsa, which would afford some rest for Gabriel.

Gabriel hardly catches a break, but with his last two performances in the Premier League looking shaky, he could do with sitting this one out to recuperate. It would only make him hungrier to come back and improve his performances, which Arsenal fans fully expect him to do.

The big risk of benching Gabriel

Benching Gabriel carries the risk that Mikel Arteta will notice.

Gabriel is the best left-sided centre-back in the world, and his position in the defensive unit matters. Nobody can come in with it as their strongest position. It is for the same reason that Gabriel is being run into the ground.

Therefore, Arteta will be careful with his lineup process. It wouldn't be surprising if Gabriel starts - after all, I'm kinda going out on a limb by suggesting that he shouldn't.

That said, with real depth, Arsenal need to take any opportunity to rehabilitate their most important players. Gabriel certainly fits that calibre.

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