Gary Neville has inferred that Gabriel Magalhaes will be the player to steer Arsenal into the Champions League places ahead of next season.
The Sky Sports pundit touched on the importance of a defensive leader in the team, and the successes that can come from having this type of player in the squad.
Gabriel has been key for Mikel Arteta’s side this season and is seen to be the most vocal defender in the team who directs orders from the backline.
The Gunners currently have the advantage in the race for a top-four position, which is thanks to the defense managing to keep 11 clean sheets this season, and Gabriel has played a huge part in this.
Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, Neville said: “I’ve always thought that in every good team there is a dominant centre-back, who your lines are held off.”
‘Where is he? Right, I’m going off him.” He added
“John Terry was absolutely brilliant at it over the years, and Tony Adams when I played for England they say ‘you’re off me’.”
Gabriel is constantly seen orchestrating the backline and is certainly beginning to show the leadership qualities after being the player to listen to demands when playing alongside David Luiz last season.
His influence since coming into the club has been clear and when he isn’t playing, Arsenal’s chances of securing a win or a clean sheet decline by a huge margin.
Gabriel was essential to the Gunners’ victory in the last match against Wolverhampton Wanderers as the defender scored the opening goal and played a huge part in securing a clean sheet, which led to him being awarded Man of the Match.
The 24-year-old was a rock in defence, and without him in the middle of the back four, the result certainly would not have gone in favour of the Gunners.
Ben White and the Brazilian are creating a strong partnership, with Gabriel being the enforcer while White is more dominant when on the ball and playing more of a sweeping role, following the orders of Gabriel.
Speaking to Arsenal.com earlier in the season about the partnership, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said “They’ve both been signed since I was here because they have the profile and the qualities that we are looking for.”
Gabriel has been arguably Arteta’s most important player this season, so if the top four is achieved, it will be thanks to his defensive heroics, and it is a notion that Neville seems to agree with.
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