Damage
At the Emirates, people still joke that there are two types of goals: one is the Mikel Arteta -style goals, the other is the moments when Gabriel Magalh a es appears as a savior.
This season, the Brazilian centre-back has done both. He headed home in the 96th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Newcastle , a moment that proved Arsenal can play beautifully and survive.
In the Champions League, Gabriel opened the scoring in a 4-0 win over Atletico . His goal caused the defensive system that Diego Simeone had built to collapse.
In a team praised for its tactical neatness and sophisticated mechanics, Gabriel represents something often overlooked: raw, enduring, and sometimes instinctive power . This is the element that a winning team must have.
Gabriel is not the type of centre-back who likes to show off. But he is the one who always appears at the moment Arsenal need him most , be it a decisive tackle, a jumping clearance, or a header that brings 3 points.
It is also Gabriel's importance that people say Arsenal received bad news from Brazil. The 27-year-old player was injured while playing for Selecao, according to Mikel Arteta's confirmation that he will "rest for a few weeks" .
Arteta described Gabriel as a “defensive leader” and his lengthy spell on the sidelines is a blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions.
Not only because the Gunners lost their most stable defensive player, but because Arteta currently has no one to replace the two-way quality that Gabriel brings.
That absence comes just as Arsenal enter a crucial week . Tottenham , Bayern Munich and Chelsea, three top battles in seven days.
These are three opponents of three different styles of play , representing a series of challenges that any candidate must overcome if they want to reach the top .
The important test
Tottenham (11:30 p.m., November 23) brings instinctive tension . The North London Derby is never just a football match, but a test of psychological endurance.
Bayern Munich with Harry Kane in near-unstoppable form is a test of European class, where every moment of error is costly.
Chelsea is a battle of consistency, testing whether Arsenal can keep pace and maintain their identity when a heavy fixture schedule drains them.
Without Gabriel, Arsenal lost their most important defensive support. He and Saliba formed the best central defender duo in Europe this season (only 5 goals conceded after 11 Premier League rounds).
The duo are also the attacking force in set pieces , a solution that can bring in precious points. More importantly , Gabriel is the one who gives Arsenal balance and mental strength .
The London side's injury-time goals this season have often involved him, who has always shown perseverance and disciplined structure.
The Brazilian's absence has become a test for the entire structure that Arteta has built over the years .
The whole world is waiting to see if Arsenal are truly entering a new chapter where they are no longer dependent on individuals, or if they are still a team that needs everything to be perfect to function smoothly.
If Arsenal get through this week, they will send the Premier League a clear statement: The Gunners are ready to win the title.
A team that can play well when it has enough players is normal; a team that can still maintain its spirit when lacking a key player is the shadow of a champion.
Arteta knows that. The players know that. Gabriel himself , who is out with a knock from the Brazil game, must also know that his absence could be a turning point .
Either Arsenal prove they have matured enough to not be shaken, or the doubts return, like a shadow that has haunted the team for two decades.
Gabriel's absence is not a tragedy, it's a question. The answer will come in seven days with three great battles - days that can define Arsenal's ambition, character and future.
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/arsenal-mat-gabriel-magalhaes-bai-toan-kho-cho-mikel-arteta-2465333.html
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