Mertesacker vs Gabriel

Jed

Mertesacker: Official Club captain, 32 years old, on his last year, been on a decline recently, but has plenty of experience to offer as well as some leadership skills

Gabriel: 26 years old, hasn't really proved to be a success yet, is very erratic on the pitch, very inconsistent, still can't speak the language and with the signing of Mustafi and the impressive early displays of young Rob Holding, his chances of being a starter are slim to none

If you had a choice between the two, who would you keep?

Klaus

Per. Better footballer, better defender, and contibutes with a lot more off the pitch. He's good enough to be backup for another 2 years or so. Gabriel shouldn't be at the club next season regardless of what happens.

marv3llous

I would keep Per and sell Gabriel.

Gazza M

Per for sure. No contest.

Mirth

Per. Better defender, better leader, more succesful and better dancer.

Claudius

Dump both. We have four central defenders next year without them

Sicario

Gabriel. Yes, he is still raw and can be unauthordox at times but he has 8 years on Per. Per will be done as an elite defender in 18 months to 2 years time. ROI wise Gabriel is the better shout, he only can get better whereas it's the opposite with the German.

marv3llous

Claudius wrote:
Dump both. We have four central defenders next year without them

The question is, if you had to choose which one leaves the club next summer 🙂

I really want rid of Gabriel. Total liability and adds nothing to the dressing room. Afraid Wenger got this one horribly wrong.

MistaT

Per if we're shooting for 4th

Gabriel if we're shooting for 1-2 in hopes that he takes it up a level a la Koscielny (after his first year here).

lorddulaarsenal

Gabriel will come good

Daz

I'd keep Per around for another season or so. Gabriel can go in January.

Clrnc

Not fussed either way. Hope Chambers come good before them.

flobaba

Gabriel.

General

I'll keep Per, sell Gabriel and bring in another CB in 1-2years to replace Per. Per is a leader and has calming influence which he can pass to the younger defenders. Gabriel is a headless chicken and a liability. I know he was eventually exonerated but I still can't forgive him for getting needlessly involved with Costa last season and costing us the game. That was one of our most painful defeats last season and we actually played quite well until the sending off. The home game was equally bad but the chaos was started by Flamini in my opinion. Both defenders can't be relied upon as first choice but happy to keep Per in the background.

Chambers is done imo. He lost his shootout with holding and I can't see a way back for him. He will be 22 next year and can't make the under 21 squad any longer. It's touch and go whether he can make a 25man squad. Another Steve Sidwell who will have a decent career at a mid table club. Shame we paid so much for him.

Mirth

Also I think Per will be more accommodating to being a squad player and embrace his role as a captain off the pitch.

ChiliPalmer

Lol, you guys really must hate Gabriel. He has time on his hands, he can still come good.

Per on the hand is finished, is his contract up next summer? Watch us extend it for absolutely no reason.

Ray

I think the problem with backups like Gabriel and Welbeck is their age. At least with Per and Giroud they will be out of here within a couple of years. I can see Wenger keeping hold of the other two for years and not buy players in that position, because the squads too big being filled up by average players.

Claudius

Wouldn't compare Welbeck with Gabi-owngol.
Welbeck is a very good bench player. He's a great guy to bring on gene you want to close off a game or if you have two other scorers on the field and need someone to give us some work rate. He does this really well. I cannot think of a single thing that Gabriel excels at. He's mediocrity. Would sooner compare Gabriel with Ox

Bold Tone

Wellbeck maybe but i'm not sure, even with his height, Mertesacker can bowl as fast as Gabi-bowl.

JazzG

MistaT wrote:
Per if we're shooting for 4th

Gabriel if we're shooting for 1-2 in hopes that he takes it up a level a la Koscielny (after his first year here).

I hope I'm completely wrong but I don't think he has it in him to improve like Kos did. It has been 18 months and if anything his form has got worse not better. Communication is still a problem despite how long he has been here. I don't think we would have spend big money on Mustafi if the management thought he would come good. They might be planning further and thinking Kos might decline soon but our club has not been known to be that proactive!