3. Nice start for Gabriel
Arsenal’s January signing, Gabriel Paulista was given a debut appearance by Arsene Wenger. For the Brazilian, it wasn’t a case of showcasing his skill or Brazilian flair, it was a time to show whether he has the composure, vision and defending ability to fend off the attacking players. For Gabriel, he was matched alongside Koscielny, who is the best defender at the club, so it was a relatively strong pairing. Fortunately, Middlesbrough never really illustrated their fine attacking flair against Arsenal, so Gabriel had a comfortable first ninety minutes in an Arsenal shirt. Gabriel won every header that came his way, which clearly was a sign of his commanding presence. Despite picking up a booking, Gabriel certainly impressed the fans and the manager.