Gabriel and Saliba at it again!

Gabriel and Saliba are back in action!

Arsenal beat Liverpool on Saturday night to take the lead heading into the Christmas break after a hotly contested point and a point split. We can depart this year feeling proud of the performances we have seen so far. Saliba and Gabriel, who have been a big part of the team’s success lately, gave Mikel Arteta and Arsenal another excellent performance in a game they had to win.

The game began with a fantastic cross into the box from a set-piece freekick by Martin Odegaard, which Gabriel whipped onto his head. Gabriel was able to leap higher than the Liverpool players, get his head onto the ball, and fire it past Allison to put Arsenal ahead. It was Gabriel’s first goal of the season and put Arsenal in a commanding position.

Throughout the game, Saliba and Gabriel both saved our asses a number of times, and without their solid collaboration, I doubt we would have won. They both managed to save a couple chances in the first half, but they were unlucky to fall behind to a spectacular goal from Salah that no one could stop. Neither Gabriel nor Saliba was at fault for the goal, though.

It was truly a game of two halves, with Liverpool emerging in the second half full of energy and determination while Arsenal appeared to be in control of the first. generating a lot of opportunities that our defensive tandem was able to read nicely.

In order to keep the score tied and Arsenal in the game, Gabriel once more came to our rescue in the 70th minute when a shot from recently substituted Harvey Elliot was blocked by Gabriel’s chest and pushed out of play. A shot that, absent his intervention, was undoubtedly going to be made. He exuded invincibility and continuously assisted in regaining possession of the ball when necessary. Gabriel appeared to be the greatest player for both teams on the field the whole evening, winning man of the match.

This backline as a whole and this pair in particular have really impressed me this season. Teams with defenses like ours win championships, and I believe we wouldn’t be performing as well as we have without them. Although Saliba’s performance was perhaps not as outstanding as Gabriel’s, he nevertheless played a strong defensive game and applied pressure to the Liverpool assault when they were rushing forward.

Overall, I believe we’ll take that and try to run with it because it was a difficult game to win and even harder to leave with a point. Currently leading the standings and keeping an eye on West Ham this week at The Emirates. A fantastic way to round off the Christmas season and, ideally, win our final two games of the year against Fulham and West Ham.

What are your opinions, Gooners?