‘That was his worst game in an Arsenal shirt’ – Twitter bashes Gunner after West Ham display
(Image via Givemesport.com)
Several fans were calling for Gabriel to replace Per Mertesacker in the starting eleven not too long ago, but the tide is turning after Saturday’s 3-3 draw with West Ham.
The Brazilian spent much of his first year at the club as a bit-part player, featuring occasionally as Arsene Wenger opted to stick with the same centre-back partnership no matter what.
However, Gabriel has gained more playing time than ever following Mertesacker’s sending off against Chelsea in January.
The 25-year-old was initially impressive but after his recent performances away at Old Trafford and Upton Park, some Gooners appear to have changed their minds about Gabriel.
https://twitter.com/suseexgooner/status/719077754340261888
Gabriel's worst game in an Arsenal shirt. Iwobi proving himself game-by-game, Gabriel giving reason to doubt game-by-game.
— Pranav Khemlani (@pranavkhemlani) April 10, 2016
They spend years saying Arsenal only want pretty football & lack fight then we sign Gabriel who would rather fight than play football.
— JB™️ (@gunnerpunner) April 9, 2016
There is a reason why Gabriel was on the bench at Villarreal. Mertesacker has to play. United and West Ham results show why. #Arsenal
— sid (@munkybidness) April 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/ArsenalLetters/status/718996646978138113
Is Gabriel the new Squillaci? Very bad things always seem to happen at the back when he plays.
— Illyrius (@Union1707) April 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/aliladiere/status/718779808482779137
bonaroca:- For sure Mr Wenger must at all cost find a pure imposing as we used to say in the old days centre half otherwise the Arsenal defence will continue giving shambolic displays. I am sure Arsenal have the funds
to enter into the market for one, otherwise there is’nt much wrong with the team except apart from that to cut down some of the extra passing from one player to the other..
Fans are rightly criticising Gabriel for another unconvincing display. Surely it was time to bring Mertesacker back into the team to counter Carroll’s aerial threat. Anyway we need to sign a quality centre half as I think Koscielny is suffering with such little support beside him. Also I think Cech would have possibly saved at least one of those goals. Both were on the subs bench !? Another case of Wenger’s poor tactical awareness
However another situation that has started to worry me is Bellarin’s poor defensive qualities recently. His great runs forward are blinding fans to his poor positioning at times. I think he is potentially a better winger than a full-back. Until his injury, I thought Debuchy was the better defender; not sure if there is any way back for him now though
Gabriel is NOT a good defender in every respect & this has been evident in most games he has featured. It’s an embarrassment to Wenger who had praise of him when he signed him . Maybe the scouts saw a different defender & was mistakenly bought . It’s better to play Mertesacker for the remaining games & buy a top defender to partner Koscielny in summer.
Gabriel is a committed defender and was a key player at Villareal before he joined up with Arsenal. He is also young and still has time to learn so I would give him time. In any case, defending is a team game so blaming one player is a merely going with the herd. The full backs shouldn’t be allowing so many crosses while the midfield should be doing more to support the full backs once West Ham resorted to high ball tactics. That didn’t happen. The team, rightly, has taken responsibility.
I also noticed that many fans do not follow the game flow but only come up to blame individual players. For example look at the cross that culminated into the first goal headed by Andy Carol, where was Hector to allow the cross to be taken, what about his support from midfield who were expexted to fall back in support? Gabriel is a committed player no doubt,, but was the partnership at the back the right one given that there was threat by Andy Carol with his ability to head balls? Why would Ospina short as he is be part of that partnership in defense?
Wenger is too tight fisted . He shd have gone for some one with epl experience.
However he aint willing to pay for its and that’s whyArsenal are suffering.
bg,he is easily beaten for pace.