Gabriel Magalhães: Lisan Al Gabi

[Batman]

In the build up a lot of the tactical focus was going to be on them using the extra attacker in Cherki or Semenyo to spam crosses towards Saliba who is supposedly weaker in the air.

They did it a few times first half but yeah Haaland peeled right off onto Gabriel second half, I think because Doku got almost nothing out of Mosquera all game and they wanted to move Cherki on that side.

So jarring that we had Martinelli on that side but couldn’t punish them even with O’Reilly pushed way up. All pace no brain from that second half cameo.

The move was to bring Dowman on and pin O'Reilly back. You can't mark Dowman with a lone fullback so it would have forced O'Reilly to be less aggressive in transition after a couple of scares.

It tells you something about the manager that he probably thought Nelli had more defensive value but City’s only chances and goal that half all came from Nelli mistakes and O'Reilly not feeling a need to be more disciplined.

 

[outlawz]

It's not a coincidence that Haaland never looked like scoring in the cup final when he basically never engaged with Gabriel and Saliba followed him everywhere. I think that was still supposed to be the plan but Pep is smarter than Arteta and sussed out that Gabriel was meant to be man marking Cherki so he moved Haaland over and Cherki a bit wider to force the matchup with Gabriel in the 2nd half. This is another thing with Arteta that we can point to. Can anyone remember him ever having the 9 target the weaker CB? I can't. That's football 101.

It's even more football player 101 - if you're a lone striker, you're not necessarily designated to either side so have the freedom across either CB. If my CF needs an instruction to peel off to the weaker CB - then we have big problems.

Even if it's the case - Havertz actually did the same. In the cup final he kept moving to the right channel and ended up contesting aerial ball's with O'Reilly. Yesterday, he went the other side and was contesting balls near Khusanov where he had more success.

Either way, if my CF doesn't have the intelligence and doesn't undertake the right preparation to determine which CB he will have more success against, I would be sending him to a death squad.

 

[Rex Caudillo]

The move was to bring Dowman on and pin O'Reilly back. You can't mark Dowman with a lone fullback so it would have forced O'Reilly to be less aggressive in transition after a couple of scares.

It tells you something about the manager that he probably thought Nelli had more defensive value but City’s only chances and goal that half all came from Nelli mistakes and O'Reilly not feeling a need to be more disciplined.

He went for “safety” with experience which I really disliked at half time.

He probably thought 1-1 Martinelli could press for 45 minutes but Dowman would’ve helped us get up the pitch more even if he makes mistakes in possession.

 

[outlawz]

You also need one defender to be very good on the ball. Out of the two, I know who i'd sacrifice, and its not Saliba.

Saliba has been a big disappointment for me for how little he has developed his ball playing abilities. For all of his composure on the ball - his complete lack of willingness to drive forward with it so disappointing. So many time I'm looking at him to go forward when the options are closed off and he doesn't. Gabriel on the other hand - his passing game has fallen off massively.

 

[Rasmi]

Too emotional for this part of the season. Extremely lucky not to be sent off. Think he definitely has a red in him before the season ends. I can definitely see him get a red card against Newcastle

 

[Gooner Zig]

He's been well below his best for a while now. His passing has gone down a level and his judging of the flight of the ball has been very suspect at times this calendar year, something that has been his super power. He completely misjudged the flight of the ball last night which led to some big chances for Atleti.

He's being carried by Saliba atm.

 

[Bagels]

He's been well below his best for a while now. His passing has gone down a level and his judging of the flight of the ball has been very suspect at times this calendar year, something that has been his super power. He completely misjudged the flight of the ball last night which led to some big chances for Atleti.

He's being carried by Saliba atm.

Fully agree, and I’ve been huge on this guy since before it was cool. He hasn’t been anywhere near his best, and we really need him to turn it up whilst keeping his head on straight for the run in.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

I thought yesterday was his best game in a while. Back to his imperious best. Don't underestimate that interception he made that lead to our 3rd goal! Bailed Saka out and started the attack in the process. Lovely stuff.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I thought yesterday was his best game in a while. Back to his imperious best. Don't underestimate that interception he made that lead to our 3rd goal! Bailed Saka out and started the attack in the process. Lovely stuff.

He always play so well as long he don't become too emotional that where things go downhill for him he top 5 defenders in world football he give you handful of average performance during whole season its no surprise our defense average 27 league goals conceded a league season with him and Saliba

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

The so called bozo moments get highlighted but he's POTY imo. Ever present, marshalled the defence and set piece attacks and was the root of much of what we've done well.

 

[Entropics]

That dive that makes the ref incorrectly cancel the pen was world class. Blocked any VAR check too, fully saved us from having a Madueke-Martinelli attack for ET.

 

[Xln]

That dive that makes the ref incorrectly cancel the pen was world class. Blocked any VAR check too, fully saved us from having a Madueke-Martinelli attack for ET.

Shut up

 

[Xln]

Best CB in the world and nobody comes close.

 

[A_G]

Wow wow wow

Redeemed himself after a shaky game against City

 

[Jakarta]

Out the squad he deserves the most to win major trophies this season.

The way he didn’t give up and pressured Simeone without giving up a penalty was amazing. I thought it was going to be a goal but my man saved the day.

 

[Ash10]

Best CB in the world and nobody comes close.

Literally a better one in the same team

 

[Ash10]

Saved our bacons today, need him scoring from corners again

 

[DanDare]

Back to his best today

Gargantuan performance

 

[Iwobeast]

Whenever there's a big striker on the pitch he just takes it personal lol, he loved dunking on Sorloth

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

You and Saliba will be the reason for us to deliver the CL the final will be the biggest game of your career.

Monster performance today