Gabriel Maintains Arsenal’s Resilience, Reports The Athletic

Gabriel, the Brazilian defender for Arsenal, showcased notable resilience in the team’s recent 1-0 victory over Fulham. This match comes after a whirlwind schedule that included a stoppage-time winner at St James’ Park and international travel to South Korea and Japan.

Arsenal’s Competitive Edge

Despite experiencing jet lag, Gabriel’s performance was pivotal. He initially struggled, making a couple of early mistakes that could have cost Arsenal. Fortunately, Fulham failed to capitalize on those opportunities.

As the game progressed, Gabriel regained his composure and contributed significantly. His header set up Leandro Trossard’s winning goal. Arsenal’s success in this match stemmed partly from their strong defensive display, with Gabriel and his teammates preventing Fulham from registering any shots on target.

Manager’s Praise for Gabriel

Manager Mikel Arteta praised Gabriel’s response to adversity on the field. He emphasized the defender’s maturity and how his determination provided stability to the team. “That’s the mindset we need in the team,” Arteta commented, highlighting how Gabriel set an example of resilience.

Player Highlights and Team Strategy

This season, Gabriel has logged the most playing minutes of any Arsenal player. He has participated in every Premier League and Champions League match, also contributing in the Carabao Cup. Arsenal’s tactical consistency reflects in the selection of players like goalkeeper David Raya and the defensive four of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, and Riccardo Calafiori. They have been crucial in maintaining the team’s competitiveness.

• Gabriel’s defensive contributions aided in keeping a clean sheet.
• Arsenal have shown improvement, currently standing seven points ahead compared to the same fixtures last season.
• Leandro Trossard scored, marking the tenth different player to score in the league for Arsenal this season.

Upcoming Challenges

As Arsenal pushes for the top of the Premier League, maintaining this resilience will be crucial. New signings like Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze are adapting to the team’s style, which includes facing densely packed defenses.

Arteta’s focus remains on building on this success. Securing wins, even under less than optimal circumstances, fosters a winning mentality within the squad that will serve Arsenal well throughout the season.