Man-God Gabriel: Page 9 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Man-God Gabriel

Burnwinter

https://arseblog.com/2023/01/gift-of-gabriel/

Arseblog rounds up some of the reasons to give worship to the Man-God.

However, Gabriel also has a crucial defensive function in Arsenal’s system. In the 2-3-5 / 3-2-5 system they operate in, there is no player more stressed, positionally, than Gabriel. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival has allowed Arsenal to exert greater control over games, largely because he doesn’t really play at left-back at all. (Nobody averages more touches in the middle third for Arsenal this season).

Clrnc

Burnwinter yet when he makes a mistake covering someone else mistakes he gets crucified for it.

He's really a man god for us past 3 years. So consistent. Except the post covid fitness issue

Clrnc

What a huge player. Superb again.

I fucking love having 2 huge CBs for us. Impenetrable in the air when we are defending deep. Anything above that and its Ramsdale's ball.

Tam

Clrnc there was a move in the game where Kane was backing into Gabriel to try and roll him near the goal, but he stood up and didn’t let Kane through. Brilliant play, then the ball went out wide and a cross came in to where you might usually expect Gabriel to be. Saliba powered through and headered clear. It was a great snapshot of the two of them working well individually and as a pair

Pepe LeFrits

Man gods... Men gods? Godmans? Gods men?

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Love love love.

James

He’s been superb since the Spurs game at the Emirates basically, which I think was his last error. Number of times he broke up the pass into Kane (their get out ball) in that first half ensured we were as dominant as we were.

lorddulaarsenal

Yep - been imperious

Segway

Best CB in the league?

KingslandBarge

Segway I think he's up there. If we're looking for something that sets him apart, then his contribution on offensive corners and set-pieces comes to mind.

Gazza M

can't teach height, is what i said when we signed him and saliba. having big strapping centre halves that can cover the ground and dominate aerially is another of those weird blind spots we had until we signed these two. having defenders like this is a cheat code in england

Clrnc

Gazza M yeah absolutely. We have to always aim tall AND strong/fast CBs from now on.

Can't teach height is 100% true

I am Arsenal Till I Die

Clrnc Are we going back to the Thomas Vermaelan debate 😆

Clrnc

I am Arsenal Till I Die no more weak ass defenders that are good on the ball and just decent defensively. We need super powers like these 2.

They are really different level. I said they are the best cb partnership we had since invincibles at the start of the season prematurely and I still stand by it

RocktheCasbah

Clrnc They need to keep it going across the season, but I'm with you. I never understood why Arsene turned away from the idea of having two supreme athletes at the back (as he had in the Invincible season) and went down some of the roads we did in the years following. Been pining for a partnership like Gabriel & Saliba for - well, 20 years now - and look what's happening now we have it. They're both magnificent.

KingslandBarge

I have them above Vermaelen/Gallas and Kolo/Gallas now but as much as I am smitten, not yet above Koscielny/Per. For me, they need to seal the deal with some silverware and match with a feat like Kos+Per's unbeaten record. To Saliba and Gabriel's credit, the opposition quality level seems like its never been more demanding.

Clrnc

KingslandBarge Per and Kos was a decent partnership, similar level to Gallas and Kolo but they simply were on the end of too many thrashings to be rated that highly for me.

Per was far too slow and can't pass well to be in this discussion imo. Kos was probably a better Ben White but always question marks about him mentally. Amazing peaks though unbeatable 1v1

JazzG

Going into the World Cup Saliba was probably performing better but since the restart Gabriel has been immense,

Sometimes partnerships just click and these two look like they've been playing together for years.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Clrnc Kos' pace as well was 03/04 Touré level.

MistaT

Gabriel/Saliba are easily ahead of Per/Kos for the standard they've set in the league.

They may have been shielded though from the challenges of Champions League, which is where we saw Per/Kos get shredded by Barca and Bayern a little too often.

Gurgen

MistaT To be fair that was usually Djourou and Kos or some other shitster and Kos.

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