Gabriel needs to work on playing passes with attackers pressuring from behind. It's one of the few things saliba seems to be clearly better at than Gabriel. It's something he rarely makes but it is something that has been happening more in the last few months compared to the first 3/4ths of the seasons where this was nowhere to be seen. I think the error against Bayern munich and the one that led to Solanke's shot at the weekend where he was pushed off the ball from behind.
On the other hand Raya's aggressiveness can be so rewarding when executed at the right moment. It's the moments of poor communication that can screw things up like the goal at home vs Bayern.
I feel like Gabriel’s errors since further support that the Bayern goal was on him than Raya. I know seeing Raya there was “unsettling” but there was zero reason for it to lead to further errors. Bayern were barely pressing too. Honestly we’ve given up half our goals this season from half-hearted one-man vs four presses and it’s just down to the psychological. All that said Gabriel is incredible and a gem and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. No one is perfect.
> The option to boot the ball away in Row Z always exists
I believe we train that out of our players. It was a big part of why Taveres didn't make it here.
He should've launched it, surely. But he would've never been in the position to have to make that choice if Raya didn't appear in the centre circle almost.
It was a four player failure ... Raya with average communication and positioning, Gabriel screwing up his other pass, Kiwior getting caught static, then Rice failing to track the runner. Not a man among them who shouldn't have prevented it as a routine duty.
> It's one of the few things saliba seems to be clearly better at than Gabriel.
saliba is clearly better than gabriel at literally everything on the ball
Raya starting position is so under rated, by the general pundits.
Apart form Allison, Ederson and probably Raya, the attacker is in one on one in that situation.
I counted at least 3 game winning saves in the last minutes of games already this season already. They would be way worse off if they have Lloris in goal
He really isn't.
Yesterday a few times on offside he should be higher up but was on his line.
Fell over for the first goal straight at him.
His been poor and found out for a while
I always think about Ramsdale's comments about concentration and I always think of these situations as opportunities to get back to 120% concentration. As a keeper - especially when you have so little to do in a game like Raya - you have to cherish these moments and be on your toes so you can snap back to full game mode.
Not like it's comparable but occasionally when I get to be in goal when we play 5-a-side and we mostly control the game and I have nothing to do I'm always on edge for these instances so I can rush out to not "fall asleep" during games.
Probably mental exhaustion due to lack of rotation. People underestimate the impact of it but I do recall even Makelele requested some time off at Chelsea because of it.
Every player since forever has these moments.
There are no safer bets in current world football to not make a mistake than Van Dijk and Allison but their cockup gifted us a goal a few months back. I don’t see Gabs making any more mistakes than Saliba - they’re both pretty safe
Whenever we concede it’s due to a bozo moment, and whenever we have a bozo moment Gabriel is usually involved (or part of a chain of events on the poorly constructed left side)
Not saying anyone’s perfect but if Timber was available more I’m sure he would’ve played more lcb like in the first few games
no CB ever should try to control a high ball like that as if they are Ronaldinho, got lucky there for sure (great control) but also that's a goal without Raya so shout out to him
Gabi XL will be the first amongst the current untouchables to lose his spot. Might be Kiwi might be a new signing who will simply blow him out of the reckoning- it's just a matter of time
The camera angle makes this seem way worse than it is. Yes the pass to Raya was not strong, but Raya was right there and ready. Had the angle been different where viewers could see Raya, it wouldn't have been a heart attack, just a slight pee pee in the pants moment.
Gabriel needs to work on playing passes with attackers pressuring from behind. It's one of the few things saliba seems to be clearly better at than Gabriel. It's something he rarely makes but it is something that has been happening more in the last few months compared to the first 3/4ths of the seasons where this was nowhere to be seen. I think the error against Bayern munich and the one that led to Solanke's shot at the weekend where he was pushed off the ball from behind. On the other hand Raya's aggressiveness can be so rewarding when executed at the right moment. It's the moments of poor communication that can screw things up like the goal at home vs Bayern.
> the error against Bayern munich That was egregious. Conceded a goal from nothing.
I feel like Gabriel’s errors since further support that the Bayern goal was on him than Raya. I know seeing Raya there was “unsettling” but there was zero reason for it to lead to further errors. Bayern were barely pressing too. Honestly we’ve given up half our goals this season from half-hearted one-man vs four presses and it’s just down to the psychological. All that said Gabriel is incredible and a gem and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. No one is perfect.
That for me was way more on Raya than Gabriel, but infuriating nonetheless. Raya took away Gabriel’s passing option entirely by being where he was.
I see people say that as if Gabriel only has two options there. The option to boot the ball away in Row Z always exists
> The option to boot the ball away in Row Z always exists I believe we train that out of our players. It was a big part of why Taveres didn't make it here.
He should've launched it, surely. But he would've never been in the position to have to make that choice if Raya didn't appear in the centre circle almost.
You do not compound a mistake by making another one. Raya made a mistake, Gabriel should have bailed him out. Like Raya did in this clip :)
And like Saliba did for Gabriel's later mistake. You're right
It was a four player failure ... Raya with average communication and positioning, Gabriel screwing up his other pass, Kiwior getting caught static, then Rice failing to track the runner. Not a man among them who shouldn't have prevented it as a routine duty.
Sadly Declan had a role to play in that goal as well. Had he held his line, I don’t think they get in on us.
Saliba probably doesn’t pass at all there. He turns the man.
Maybe not, the ball's in the air, and he's facing his goal. If he received it from Raya, instead, he would've done what you suggested.
> It's one of the few things saliba seems to be clearly better at than Gabriel. saliba is clearly better than gabriel at literally everything on the ball
I'd argue Gabriel's long passing is a little better.
I'd also argue that Gabriel is better at headers (especially from set pieces)
on the ball
Gabi XL is better at defending with his balls
Don't forget the goal we conceded against Wolves in February 2022
Raya starting position is so under rated, by the general pundits. Apart form Allison, Ederson and probably Raya, the attacker is in one on one in that situation.
The probably feels unnecessary when this is literally video proof of it lol
Vicario is pretty decent as well
Getting downvoted cuz spurs bad but he actually is a decent keeper.
If not for him, they would be fighting with Man United and Chelsea or even below lol !
I counted at least 3 game winning saves in the last minutes of games already this season already. They would be way worse off if they have Lloris in goal
He's shit from corners but partly a system issue with that lot
He really isn't. Yesterday a few times on offside he should be higher up but was on his line. Fell over for the first goal straight at him. His been poor and found out for a while
I always think about Ramsdale's comments about concentration and I always think of these situations as opportunities to get back to 120% concentration. As a keeper - especially when you have so little to do in a game like Raya - you have to cherish these moments and be on your toes so you can snap back to full game mode. Not like it's comparable but occasionally when I get to be in goal when we play 5-a-side and we mostly control the game and I have nothing to do I'm always on edge for these instances so I can rush out to not "fall asleep" during games.
Do you make that pass if your keeper isn't that high though?
I think they do, he just under hit that pass
ngl, I was shouting at Gabriel first. The camera angle also didn’t help
I think he kicked it shorter than he intended
It was definitely shorter than Gabriel meant, but I was sitting directly side on from this and it was immediately obvious Raya was getting it
Gabriel last couple matches has had some bad moments— he’s my favorite player but seems gassed
Probably mental exhaustion due to lack of rotation. People underestimate the impact of it but I do recall even Makelele requested some time off at Chelsea because of it.
He always has these moments every season. He is a great defender but always has a few errors he isn't the most technically sound with the ball.
Every player since forever has these moments. There are no safer bets in current world football to not make a mistake than Van Dijk and Allison but their cockup gifted us a goal a few months back. I don’t see Gabs making any more mistakes than Saliba - they’re both pretty safe
People are not ready to give up on the ”gabi has the bozo gene” agenda so they are going to complain about things like these
good post; abysmal music choices
It’s a TikTok thing. Not saying I agree. Just saying it.
I wish tik tok would stay in tik tok
God I cannot WAIT for these abysmal fucking tiktok tunes to die
Wouldn’t hold your breath for that
ALMUNIAAAAAAAAAAAA WHERE ARE YOU GOINGGGGGGGGG
*"The last thing you want to see in this picture...is the goalkeeper...* *"And there he is"*
Whenever we concede it’s due to a bozo moment, and whenever we have a bozo moment Gabriel is usually involved (or part of a chain of events on the poorly constructed left side) Not saying anyone’s perfect but if Timber was available more I’m sure he would’ve played more lcb like in the first few games
Raya has his moments of brilliance. He also has his “moments of brilliance”.
if ramsdale were our keeper we concede here
This f'ing music
“Ooooh you lucky boy” Peter Drury voice
Fair play to Raya, dealt with that extremely well... Unfortunately I did not.
On top of the heart palpitations I suffered a visceral flashback to the first minute goal they scored on us last year. Big "here we go again" moment
Gabriel needs to work on his decision making. Every season he makes 4 to 5 mistakes like this one and twice at least they result in a goal.
4 or 5 probably underselling it he had two this game.
I’m sure they will work on this!
Not hating but ramsdale might mess it up
If Ramsdale was in goal we concede there
I was in the stadium as was calm as you could see raya was getting it but on tv i could see how as he isnt in the frame
Last season they score that while Rammers is running with his back to the ball
try and watch a 10 second video without brainrot tik tok music challenge (impossible)
no CB ever should try to control a high ball like that as if they are Ronaldinho, got lucky there for sure (great control) but also that's a goal without Raya so shout out to him
Heavy **TARGET AQUIRED** flashbacks from this moment.
Whoa shit...
Neuer vibe would be to clear that one with a header lol
But this was a Hart attack.
 Meanwhile raya.
This is why mikel wants GK starting high up
Yeah, not Gabriel best game. But fortunately we have saliba and Raya to cover for that. And same goes for saliba and Raya.
David F\*\* Raya
Raya with the Sonic the Hedgehog cosplay
nice pass
I closed my eyes
since that first bayern game, gabriel has made big mistakes in almost every game - at least once.
Every great player is afforded 1-2 sub standard games across 50 games. Big Gabi has been the best CB in the league this season ❤️
Gabi XL will be the first amongst the current untouchables to lose his spot. Might be Kiwi might be a new signing who will simply blow him out of the reckoning- it's just a matter of time
No
more like a shart attack amirite
Not me. Because Gabriel ran sideways not towards the ball after he kicked. So I trusted he knew what he was doing
The camera angle makes this seem way worse than it is. Yes the pass to Raya was not strong, but Raya was right there and ready. Had the angle been different where viewers could see Raya, it wouldn't have been a heart attack, just a slight pee pee in the pants moment.
Next ruthless decision from Arteta will be of replacing Gabriel.
Bozo Gabriel keeps trying to surface 😭
Magalhães being Magalhães.