Gabriel is actually not a prototype defender of a Pep/Arteta system. His passing is not good enough for him to step into midfield and start moves. Though, he has been working on it and it has improved a lot.

But what Gabriel gives you is a level of aggression that is absolutely critical in a partnership. He reminds me of slightly less skilled Vermaelen. If Gabriel can continue to be more calm in crucial moments, he has the potential to be one of the best ever to play for Arsenal.

Having varying skill set DCs can be good for the team, Carvallo and Terry, Vidic and Ferdinand, both were top DC pairings and covered all the bases for playing DC

Gabriel and Saliba can/are doing similar for Arsenal, be interesting to see what the set up is when Timber is fit again?

I think Timber/Tomi will continue to fill in full back areas and/or centre back in case of injury. Timber is 5ft 10. I think he is a bit too small for starting CB. Gabriel is 6ft 3 and Saliba 6ft 4.

I did wonder about that? did Timber play as a DC before coming to Arsenal or did he mix DC and FB?

Horrible start to his Arsenal career after the injury, be like a new signing for you

It is impossible to know what the plan was as Zinchenko was out at the start of the season, then obviously Timber has been out ever since. Timber played the 3rd CB from FB role while Partey played inverted FB to midfield role. So you could guess Zinchenko would have come to LB as the invertor and Timber gone to the RB role as 3rd CB. Or Timber could have gone to LCB and White moved over to RB.

All I know is at the time it didn't look good for Gabriel as he didn't seem to fit into the team with Timber. But there may have been another reason for his demotion to the bench.

Timber has played CB/FB/MF. Arteta only seems to go for players who are able to play in multiple positions.

Gabriel pound for pound has been Arteta's best signing.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 minutes ago
It is impossible to know what the plan was as Zinchenko was out at the start of the season, then obviously Timber has been out ever since. Timber played the 3rd CB from FB role while Partey played inverted FB to midfield role. So you could guess Zinchenko would have come to LB as the invertor and Timber gone to the RB role as 3rd CB. Or Timber could have gone to LCB and White moved over to RB.

All I know is at the time it didn't look good for Gabriel as he didn't seem to fit into the team with Timber. But there may have been another reason for his demotion to the bench.
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Also have to remember that Declan Rice was new to Arsenal and not adapted to our style or positional play.

Easy to forget Gabriel only just turned 26 at the end of last year. Thats really entering peak years for a CB so should only get better, and he has really stamped out most mistakes from his play.

I do think Arteta would have probably (Well, he did) go with Timber + Saliba for CB but as DJ says maybe there was other reasons for that.

Timber looks as good at full back as he did at centre back, which is good considering how many injuries we get there (pretty much everyone but Ben White is constantly injured).

I really don't think Timber was slated to replace Gabriel if he had gone to Saudi. I expect Arsenal would have kept him unless a massive bid came in. And if one had, they were more likely to go for someone like Ousmane Diomande and moved Saliba to the left.

Think we will have to wait until next season to see where Timber now fits in.

It seemed like Arteta was ready to swing the axe on Gabriel in the summer which was odd then, looks even odder now.

Gabriel and Saliba compliment each other perfectly. Not flawless. Who is? For me they currently are the best CB duo in the PL.

comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
It seemed like Arteta was ready to swing the axe on Gabriel in the summer which was odd then, looks even odder now.


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You will get good money for him now

The only good thing that came from Timber’s injury was an end to the mad idea that Gabriel was a bench player or even possibly bait for Saudi money.

Timber will have to get used to playing back up or at either FB position. Gabriel and Saliba are an ELITE partnership. There are better defenders than them out there individually but as a partnership, Gabriel/Saliba have ridiculous chemistry that you can’t buy

comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes against football since 2019 (U18355)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
The only good thing that came from Timber’s injury was an end to the mad idea that Gabriel was a bench player or even possibly bait for Saudi money.

Timber will have to get used to playing back up or at either FB position. Gabriel and Saliba are an ELITE partnership. There are better defenders than them out there individually but as a partnership, Gabriel/Saliba have ridiculous chemistry that you can’t buy
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Honestly who are better than them?

Gabriel’s stepped up. He was often the guy to lose his head in crucial moments but now he’s the guy you rely on in crucial moments. With him it was more mental than anything.
He’s such a solid player, the goals he’s coming up with are just a bonus. But defensively he’s got that grit and leadership required.

comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes against football since 2019 (U18355)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
The only good thing that came from Timber’s injury was an end to the mad idea that Gabriel was a bench player or even possibly bait for Saudi money.

Timber will have to get used to playing back up or at either FB position. Gabriel and Saliba are an ELITE partnership. There are better defenders than them out there individually but as a partnership, Gabriel/Saliba have ridiculous chemistry that you can’t buy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly who are better than them?
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Yeah, nobody in my book, individually or as a pair, Gabriel is the perfect powerful foil for the Bentley Turbo that is Saliba.

I wouldn't swap Saliba for VVD now, Saliba is 10 years younger & since his return from injury VVD hasn't returned to his imperious best, I think he has lost a yard of pace. Saliba will ony get better - I fear that we will not be able to hang on to him. 👀

Timber should IMO just slot in at either LB or RB.

I'd personally like to see

White - Saliba - Gabby - Timber

Defensively we are the best team in the league

comment by ItsAboutTheBackFour (U9916)
posted 10 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes against football since 2019 (U18355)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
The only good thing that came from Timber’s injury was an end to the mad idea that Gabriel was a bench player or even possibly bait for Saudi money.

Timber will have to get used to playing back up or at either FB position. Gabriel and Saliba are an ELITE partnership. There are better defenders than them out there individually but as a partnership, Gabriel/Saliba have ridiculous chemistry that you can’t buy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly who are better than them?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, nobody in my book, individually or as a pair, Gabriel is the perfect powerful foil for the Bentley Turbo that is Saliba.

I wouldn't swap Saliba for VVD now, Saliba is 10 years younger & since his return from injury VVD hasn't returned to his imperious best, I think he has lost a yard of pace. Saliba will ony get better - I fear that we will not be able to hang on to him. 👀
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So Arsenal can spend a £100m on a player but not be able to hang onto one of their starters?

How does that work?