2 weeks ago
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NOT many central defenders in world football feel the need to have a trademark goal celebration.
But then again, not many are as deadly with their head as Arsenal’s Gabriel.
Alamy
AFPThe Brazilian centre back’s 10th minute header to open the scoring against West Ham at the London Stadium was his third in the Premier League this season – and fourth in all competitions.
That takes his headed tally to 12 in the league since arriving in England in September 2020 – just five away from Virgil van Dijk and Sami Hyppia in the Prem all-time headed goal chart.
And while he is still 15 away from John Terry’s tally, only a fool would bet against Gabriel edging closer to – or even surpassing – that target this term, let alone by the time the 26-year-old calls it a day in North London.
His latest offering – a flicked header from a Bukayo Saka corner in a 5-2 thrashing of a woeful Hammers outfit – was followed by an unusual celebration, interlinking his fingers over his eyes.
It was first on show this campaign in Tuesday night’s 5-1 Champions League victory away at Sporting Lisbon, with some suggesting it was done to mock Viktor Gyokeres’ similar goal-getting theatrics – the Swede’s fingers covering his mouth instead.
But a repeat showing in East London perhaps quashes those theories.
Gabriel’s version is said to be a nod to comic book legend Batman – backed up by Arsenal’s social media team posting a masked superhero emoji moments after the header.
Expect to see that celebration a lot more over the coming weeks with Arsenal’s set-piece efficiency back on show having overcome a recent four-match winless Prem slump to reignite a title charge.
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It is not stopping Gabriel’s teammates teasing, though. Jorginho admitted: “We make fun of [the celebration] and he has fun with it as well. It is great stuff what is happening.”
After five different goal scorers in Lisbon, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal repeated that feat against West Ham with Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Saka also netting in the first half.
Aaron Wan Bissaka and Emerson scored to briefly make it 4-2 but the visitors’ comeback was short-lived.
Yet the name up in lights is Gabriel’s – the last player to leave the pitch on Saturday night as he soaked up the admiration of the away end by orchestrating the chants.
His goal came from a slightly altered NFL-style routine conjured up by set-piece coach Nicolas Jover with Gabriel given freedom to roam at the back post while the others act as blockers.
How West Ham allowed Arsenal’s biggest threat a free header is anyone’s guess. It is not exactly a secret where the ball is going – the corner-takers even point to Gabriel before their delivery.
Asked how you stop Gabriel, Jorginho laughed: “I’m not going to tell you! He’s really good and it requires a lot of work from the whole team. Everyone does their job and then he’s a real threat.
“He’s been so helpful to us.”
Arteta added: “The more [Gabriel scores] the more you believe it. You can tell straight away from the body language of the player, how they communicate, that something is coming up.
“To have various ways of scoring goals makes the team more unpredictable, the opposition have to work on many more things. It’s a good thing for us.”
There is some concern over Gabriel’s fitness ahead of Wednesday’s Prem clash with Manchester United at the Emirates after he was subbed at half-time as a precaution owing to an ongoing muscular problem picked up in Lisbon.
But Arsenal are heading into the festive period looking back to their best, winning their last three in all competitions and scoring 13 in the process, including a 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest.
Arteta’s men also have the advantage of not leaving London for any games until January 4.
Jorginho said: “We are in a good momentum now. We need to carry on and focus.
“Having players back from injury, having the whole squad available, has made a huge difference. We fixed something that wasn’t working and now it is.”
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