But I’ve pointed you examples where Arteta has overlooked that preference.
We are at a stage where the scapegoats are the likes of Ramsdale, Gabriel, Tierney, Tomiyasu - all of whom are extremely good players but the other members of the squad demand more.
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The bigger issue was that our midfield was piss poor and offered no stability, structure or protection in front of the defence. Gabriel looked like Bambi but our whole team were cowards that day, so I wouldn’t single out one dude for criticism. Embarrassing all round.
I’m not saying Gabriel is flawless or Sol Campbell but the guy has the best defensive fundamentals out of our CBs. That’s not to say Saliba and White are a billon miles behind either.
And Gabriel can find a forward pass. Played a brilliant incisive ball forward in the first half but I think it was Havertz who butchered the control.
For long periods last season, Gabriel was our rock at the back. Saliba was responsible for goals and made enough mistakes but he was cut a lot more slack.
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When our scapegoats are Rammers, Gabs, Tomi etc. and not Mustafi, Lichensteiner and Gervinho. You know you have gone up a level. Our squad is pretty sublime atm.
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I don’t see him losing his job anytime soon, maybe one day but not this year and probably not next.
A possession-based team can carry a defender that isn’t anything special on the ball, as long as they’re not tragic (and he isn’t that). Walker, Kompany, Puyol were all mainstays of Pep’s sides. Real won four CLs while usually having either Varane or Pepe on the field.
Big Gabi is a good complement to the rest of our defense, especially Saliba, who remains surprisingly crap in the air and is still learning how to really use his strength and physicality when defending in tighter spaces in the box. Gabi is our best box defender, best set piece defender, and also the guy who will bang the shit out of a physical CF who is trying to lay down some kind of marker and needs to be stood up against. Its good for Saliba’s development that he can focus on doing the things he is great at doing and doesn’t have to worry as much about this other stuff. He is also by far our best attacking threat on set pieces and like every side we’re going to need a few of those jammy set piece goals to find a win in matches that are struggles.
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Gabriel definitely doesn’t get enough plaudits. He has a brain fart every now and then but they’re happening less frequently.
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“BBC in Saudi” 
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If they offer 100m or something I dont see the problem.
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Utter BS. No way he is going this summer.
He’s gonna “stick around”
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I said no way to David Raya - nothing would shock me. This is highly unlikely though for a number of reasons.
Arsenal got him pushing too many pencils?
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He’s “your baggage”
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I don’t care who you are back in the world, you give away our position one more time, I’ll bleed ya, real quiet.
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I’m gonna cut your name right into him.
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Sell him for £100m, buy Laporte for £30m, I’m happy
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Knock-knock 
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We’re fucked if he goes, need a replacement asap if these reports are true. Season derailing already 