Arsenal's underrated leader who must be given a new contract | OneFootball

Other team-mates might get more attention but tying down top performer feels key

Gabriel has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season but will have two years left on his contract in the summer

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By his own high standards, William Saliba believes he has not performed well this season.

Saliba will review his performances in the summer and part of that process will also see him study others.

Among those the Frenchman will watch is his centre-back partner Gabriel, who Saliba argues has been one of the best defenders in the world this season.

Gabriel is overlooked in favour of centre-back partner William Saliba but he has been in brilliant form for Arsenal

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It was nice for Saliba to single out Gabriel for praise, as so often the Brazilian is overlooked in favour of his centre-back partner.

Saliba is usually the one in the spotlight and that is even the case now ahead of a big summer for Arsenal.

Talks are yet to start but Saliba is happy in north London and stressed this month how he is relaxed about the situation.

Amid the clamour to tie Saliba down - and the fact Real Madrid have been credited with an interest in signing him - it is easy for Gabriel to be overlooked.

Gabriel is in the same contractual situation as Saliba, though, and will also have two years to run on his deal come the summer.

Tying Gabriel down is just as vital and Standard Sport reported how Arsenal held preliminary talks with his representatives towards the back end of last season.

The 27-year-old has long-term interest from Saudi Arabia, who would be able to offer him a lucrative deal.

Gabriel has long-term interest from Saudi Arabia

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Gabriel was the first of a string of senior players to sign new contracts with Arsenal over the past few years.

He agreed terms in October 2022 and since then the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Saliba have followed suit.

Gabriel can now justifiably feel he should be rewarded for his performances as he has excelled for the Gunners since signing that contract.

Only David Raya and Saliba have played more minutes for Arsenal in the Premier League this season, with Gabriel helping the Gunners have the best defensive record.

He has been a rock at the back and his tally of 42 blocks in 29 league games is nearly double the next best, which is Leandro Trossard on 23.

Gabriel has developed into a leader and he is a far cry from the player that arrived at Arsenal five years ago.

Back then, he could barely speak any English and the language barrier halted his early progress. Gabriel was raw and prone to mistakes, too.

The centre-back has matured to the extent he has captained Arsenal at times this season. He is a leader, on and off the pitch, and is coming into his peak years.

Like Saliba, he puts much of his success down to his centre-back partner.

The pair’s styles compliment each other, with Gabriel an aggressive front-footed defender and Saliba someone who sweeps behind by using his pace.

Off the pitch, the duo get on well and, again, they compliment each other. Gabriel is a loud and vibrant character, with Saliba more laidback and quiet.

They often speak to each other in French, which Gabriel knows from his time in France at Lille, and have formed an unlikely friendship.

Breaking it up would be a huge blow to Arsenal, not least because much of their success under Mikel Arteta has been built from the back.

Tying Saliba down is crucial to that, but Gabriel is just as important and his performances this season have shown that.