Arsenal have ten games to go before the season ends and their Premier League title challenge is decided. Although the entire squad have had their share of contributions, some players have stood out above the rest.
The goals have been spread throughout the side during the campaign but the majority have fallen to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. The England international won the accolade of player of the season for 2021/22 but the title chase has created an even deeper rivalry internally for the award.
Were it not for injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, their performances would have also surely have put them in the running. Thomas Partey has been arguably the most important member of the group with his absence being felt greater than perhaps any other.
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Yet, as the famous saying goes, ‘goals win games, defences win titles.’ Therefore, maybe there is an even worthier winner should their form persist until the end of the season in the argument for this coveted award in the most pivotal of campaigns.
Gabriel Magalhães began the season in danger of becoming the next fan scapegoat. A label that has frustratingly passed from one squad member to another with many needing at least someone to look on less favourably and blame for poor performances related more legitimately to a wider collective.
Yet, as things stand, any regular watcher of the Premier League this season would be hard-pressed to find a centre-half performing at a higher level. His closest rival is most likely his partner, William Saliba.
The Frenchman has taken to the English top flight seamlessly, although has experienced something of a slight dip in the early part of 2023. During this period, Gabriel rose to the occasion but even more so whilst he is appreciated for his job at centre-half, he is performing in more than just this position.
The introduction of Zinchenko has meant Gabriel needs to cover a far larger area than Saliba. The Ukrainian’s dual responsibility of playing further forward and effectively as a fourth midfielder means the Brazilian covers both the left centre-half space and that of the vacated left-back role.
You’ll often see either Zinchenko or Kieran Tierney popping up between Gabriel and Saliba when in possession of the ball. Gabriel has defended astutely and with a physical dominance that had been so lacking from previous Gunners’ defences since their last league title in 2004.
Furthermore, his threat in the other penalty area has proven pivotal for Arsenal. A goal in each game against Fulham home and away sent his side on the way to six more points. Whilst his finish at Stamford Bridge earned Arsenal a monumental three more points on the board in west London against Chelsea.
Until last weekend’s game against Crystal Palace, Gabriel had started and completed every single Premier League game so far. The presence of Jakub Kiwior now provides Arteta the chance to rest Gabriel at the end of games but by no means has there ever been a necessity to based on his focus from start to finish.
So many attributes of his game have improved. From his passing to his discipline, Gabriel is a legitimate candidate for player of the season and he has ten more games to take the fight to Saka, Odegaard and company to show fans why he’s worthy of the award.
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