Arsenal has been in charge and dominant in most games this season, but they were not in control of the contest against Leeds United on Sunday when Gabriel Magalhaes became enraged with Martin Odegaard, a teammate.
Arsenal was significantly outplayed by Leeds in the second half, and the Gunners only managed to win 1-0 because to desperate goalkeeping, outstanding goalkeeping, and a little bit of luck.
Due to his temper, Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to have undone all of Arsenal’s hard work by kicking out at Patrick Bamford, giving up a penalty, and getting sent off in extra time. However, VAR saved him, and overall, his performance was excellent, making four crucial blocks, three interceptions, and three tackles while the Gunners were up against it.
What Made Gabriel Mad at Martin Odegaard
In and among the craziness of the final seconds, it’s simple to overlook the fact that Gabriel was actually excellent on Sunday.
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While there are certain days when you can play games with the same grace that players like Ben White and William Saliba have displayed for the majority of this season, there are other days when you must thrash and splash your way out of troubled waters. Exactly that is what Gabriel did.
In a nearly flawless defensive performance, the Brazilian won every single one of his nine total aerial duels, cleared the ball four times, blocked four shots, made three tackles, and intercepted three passes.
As he yelled angrily at Martin Odegaard for cheaply giving the ball away in the lead-up to a clearance he had to make from Luis Sinisterra’s goal-bound shot, he demonstrated his leadership by insisting on high standards even with Arsenal’s captain.
It was a performance that showcased his best qualities, but with the match’s final seconds approaching, he also displayed some of his worst.
In a fit of pique, Patrick Bamford punched out in retaliation as he careered into the 24-year-old, temporarily giving away a potentially deadly penalty and getting sent off. Although VAR stepped in to help, this event showed how fine a line Gabriel has been walking this season between majesty and craziness.
For all the excellence he is capable of, his mistakes against Fulham, Tottenham, and Liverpool show the tendency for rashness that exists in his game. He has received harsh criticism for the mistakes he made in those games.
Such a narrow focus on the flaws, though, makes us oblivious to days like Sunday, when he demonstrates what he offers to the team.
The Brazilian is currently the subject of intense discussion among Arsenal supporters, who are partaking in their favorite pasttime of assembling a future squad. Such discussions bring to mind debates over another player who, until recently, had split the Gunners support in half for a long time.
There are unquestionable similarities between Gabriel and Granit Xhaka in terms of their lively personalities, propensity to fight, and occasional arrogance. The Swiss midfielder has his ardent supporters, but up until lately, he also had his share of detractors.
Gabriel seems set to take over the position of being the subject of heated debate among Arsenal supporters right now, which seems a little cruel. He is the type of player the Gunners need to carry them through the tough times, and Sunday served as yet another reminder of that.