da bet7k： Arsenal’s start to the new season suggests that the club’s desire to challenge for major silverware is still some way off.
da pinup bet： The North London side have showcased their trademark delightful attacking football on occasion in 2015-16, but problems at the back continue to persist and blight the team’s chances.
Defeat at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night was not the ideal start to their European campaign, while a home defeat to West Ham on the opening day of the season had alarm bells ringing also.
There is certainly an argument to suggest that Arsene Wenger must get his back four sorted if the Gunners are to be realistic Premier League title hopefuls, with decisions to be made in all areas.
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However, one of the most interesting dilemmas that the French coach must decipher is whether to reinstate long-serving stalwart Per Mertesacker into the team upon his availability or to persist with January addition Gabriel Paulista.
It appears that if fit and ready to play, Laurent Koscielny will command one of the centre-half positions for the Emirates Stadium outfit.
There is certainly a case to bring Mertesacker back into the mix, especially given that he and the France international have played consistently alongside one another in recent years.
The experienced German brings stature and a presence at the back, while his aerial ability and reading of the game are also plus points.
That said, with the future in mind and looking at making Arsenal a more-rounded team, Gabriel’s inclusion seems like the better choice.
The former Villarreal enforcer is still learning the language and adapting to life in the Premier League, but the initial signs are that the South American has all the raw attributes to be a major asset for Wenger’s men.
Quick across the ground and with a no-nonsense approach, Gabriel’s performances for the Gunners have largely impressed to date and the Brazilian has room to improve as he becomes more accustomed to his surroundings.
The main thing that Wenger will potentially look at when making his decision is Mertesacker’s recent track record of being caught out by sprightly attackers.
Turning 31 later this month, the former Werder Bremen man has never been blessed with real pace and looks like he is starting to feel his age more than most.
His lack of ability to turn quickly has impacted on Arsenal’s playing style, with his presence preventing the London outfit from playing a high line due to the threat of balls over the top.
Gabriel on the other hand looks like a rounded physical player and alongside Koscielny would offer the Emirates Stadium outfit a partnership with all the attributes to dominate opposition forwards.
Mertesacker is by no means a player that Arsenal should relegate to fringe status, with his experience and commanding nature still having a role at the club.
However, in the biggest of games, Wenger may well be tempted to partner the more mobile Gabriel with Koscielny in search of a winning combination.
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