1 week ago
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Arsenal made it five wins from five in the Champions League as they successfully edged Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium courtesy of a brilliant second-half display
He might be injured but make no mistake, Gabriel Magalhaes will be kicking every ball for Arsenal until he's given the green light to get back onto the field of play.
Initially, the Brazilian's thigh issue - sustained during an international friendly against Senegal - appeared to be a hammer blow for Mikel Arteta's side but their recruitment has been so meticulous, they have the capacity to navigate life without their talismanic centre-back.
Gabriel went viral in April for his passionate celebrations after the 3-0 demolition of Real Madrid at the Emirates and he was keen to soak up the jubilant post-match scenes on Wednesday evening, too.
The 27-year-old scurried onto the pitch to congratulate his team-mates but one of his first ports of call was to give Declan Rice a huge bear hug.
The duo are two of the titans driving Arsenal's bid for glory this season and they are cornerstones of Arteta's dressing room.
But the fact Gabriel was quick to smother Rice was a reflection of the England international's all-action performance, which was imperative to victory. In the second half, Rice grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, like he always does.
He drove Arsenal up the pitch, nearly created a goal for Bukayo Saka and made one key tackle that cranked up the decibel levels inside the Emirates Stadium after he revved up the crowd with his arms.
Players like Rice and Gabriel are going to be integral to Arsenal's fortunes this term. When the going gets tough, these are the kind of characters that will drag you over the line.
Rice might not wear the captain's armband but he is a leader in every sense and has been worth every penny of his British-record £105million transfer from West Ham.
Gabriel recognises game and while he did dish out hugs for the rest of his team-mates, there was clear recognition for Rice's efforts in the middle of the park as the 26-year-old took the game to Bayern.
A draw wouldn't have been disastrous by any means, particularly as Arsenal face Kazakh minnows FC Kairat in their final group phase fixture but that is what is so good about the Gunners this season - they are hungry to win every game and they hold themselves accountable to the standards of champions.
Once Gabriel is back, you fancy them to raise the bar again but they have already faced numerous injury setbacks this term and have taken them blows in their stride.
Keeping Rice fit and firing, however, remains crucial because he's such a vital figure on the pitch and he raises the level of his team-mates with his lung-busting runs and physical presence.
Rice created three chances, made six passes into the final third, wasn't dribble past once and also made five ball recoveries for his side.
It's hard to pinpoint any midfielder in world football currently having a greater impact upon any club side.
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