Mikel Arteta Finally Explains Gabriel’s Absence From The XI Earlier This Season

Mikel Arteta addresses Gabriel’s period on the bench…

Mikel Arteta has finally addressed the reason behind Gabriel’s period on the bench earlier this season and stated that it was purely done to give the defender a wake-up call.

Speaking to the press ahead of our game against Wolves, the boss was asked if he now acknowledges Gabriel and William Saliba as his best centre-back pairing after leaving the Brazilian on the bench in the opening games of the campaign.

Ben White partnered Saliba at the heart of the defence in our first three league games, with Thomas Partey continuing the right-back berth he occupied towards the end of last season.

While we remained unbeaten in those fixtures, a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham saw Arteta revert to the defensive pairing which saw us mount our first title challenge in decades.

Many speculated that Gabriel only returned to the team following the close of the transfer window and that his absence was partly due to heavy rumours of an impending departure.

For Arteta, the decision was purely tactical and one designed to give the former Lille man a kick up the backside.

“In football, it’s (about) tomorrow,” the 41-year-old said when asked if he’s now satisfied with the Saliba and Gabriel partnership following the latter’s period out of the team.

“It’s about form, it’s about how you’re playing, it’s about how you’re behaving and you have to earn it every single day because, if not, somebody else is next to you and wants to take your place.

“Sometimes you just need to sit down on the bench and realise things, then you suddenly become a much better player.”

I may be in the minority, but I refuse to believe there was any chance of Gabriel leaving the club last summer and firmly accept Arteta’s explanation of his decision being a tactical one.

While we’re unaware of what was going on behind the scenes, his period on the bench also coincided with an injury to Alex Zinchenko – forcing Arteta to shift the emphasis of an inverting full-back to the other side.

Once the Ukrainian regained full fitness, Gabriel also returned to the team for the game against Manchester United in September.