Arsenal’s defensive stalwart, Gabriel, endured his poorest performance of the season in their 2-2 draw against newly promoted Sunderland, struggling in duels that led to crucial goals.
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhães suffered his “worst performance of the campaign to date” during the Gunners’ frustrating 2-2 draw against newly promoted Sunderland on Saturday, according to Football FanCast reporting.
The hard-earned draw at the Stadium of Light saw Mikel Arteta’s league leaders concede twice, bringing an end to their remarkable eight-game run without conceding a goal.
While the team struggled collectively at the back, particularly in the build-up to the late equaliser, the Brazilian defender was singled out for his uncharacteristic showing after a run of imperious form.
Prior to the match, the defender had received widespread acclaim, with pundit Jamie Carragher recently labelling him “the most influential player” in the Premier League.
However, the report notes that Gabriel was handed a disappointing 5/10 match rating by GOAL following the weekend’s fixture, citing his involvement in the defining late goal.
The primary point of criticism stemmed from the stoppage-time goal scored by Brian Brobbey, which salvaged a point for the Black Cats.
The towering striker reportedly “bullied on this occasion” and “outmuscled” Gabriel in the duel, leaving the Arsenal man “pleading with the referee to give a foul” which was not forthcoming. It was an unusual lack of aggression from a player known for his fierce duel success.
Arsenal writer and content creator Jamie Kent further lamented the incident, stating that the Brazilian star had just been outplayed “when it mattered most.”
This critical lapse marks the third instance this season where Gabriel has lost a crucial duel directly leading to an opposition goal, following similar errors against Erling Haaland during the 1-1 draw with Manchester City and another earlier defensive error.
The article suggests that while the centre-back remains “pretty rock solid besides that error,” such fundamental misjudgments must be “eradicated from his game” if he is to maintain his status among the league’s elite.
The international break, therefore, is posited as a necessary chance for the squad to reset and correct these rare but costly lapses.