Arsenal defenders Ben White and Gabriel will ‘get better and better’ after striking up a promising partnership, according to journalist Paul Brown.
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Premier League – Arsenal v Brentford
The duo have become the north London outfit’s first-choice centre-back pairing this season in what is turning out to be a encouraging campaign for Mikel Arteta’s young side.
What is the latest news involving White and Gabriel?
Gabriel arrived at the Emirates Stadium back in September 2020 via a £23.14 million move from Ligue 1 outfit Lille and was in and out of the side during his maiden campaign on English shores.
The 24-year-old started 22 Premier League games throughout last term as the Gunners limped to an eighth placed finish, resulting in them failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 26 years.
White then joined Arteta’s ongoing revolution at the capital club last summer after completing a whopping £50m transfer from boyhood club Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite making a shaky debut against newly-promoted Brentford, the two-cap England international has gone from strength to strength since joining Arsenal, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.
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Back in October, White said that he and Gabriel had ‘just clicked’ at the heart of Arsenal’s backline, and their defensive record is evidence of that.
Only title-challengers Manchester City and Liverpool have bettered Arsenal’s tally of 11 Premier League clean sheets this season, and the 26 strikes they have leaked in their 23 top-flight fixtures means they have the fifth-best defensive record in the division.
What has Brown said about White & Gabriel?
As per WhoScored, White – who is right-footed – excels at dribbling out from the back and intercepting opposition passes, while the left-footed Gabriel’s biggest strength is his passing.
And Brown believes this ‘mix of strengths’ is what makes them such a good centre-back pairing and predicts they will continue to improve if they can stay injury-free.
He told GiveMeSport: “They have a mix of strengths that combine well. So, I think they are a good pair. I think they’ll get better and better as well.
“Arteta hasn’t always had the two of them available this season; he’s had to chop and change a little bit because of injuries. And I think if they can get a prolonged run in the team, you’ll start to see just how good they are.”
Will Arsenal finish in the top four?
Arsenal are currently sitting pretty in fifth position in the top-flight table, just one point behind fourth-place Manchester United, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
With crucial fixtures against the Red Devils and sixth-placed West Ham to come between now and the end of the campaign, the destiny of Arteta’s charges is in their hands.
White and Gabriel will surely be hoping they can maintain their impressive form between now and May, helping to guide Arsenal back to Europe’s elite cup competition for the first time since 2016/17.
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