It is a wonderful gift for Arsenal to have a player who can produce a goal that has that sense of inevitability.
How the Brazilian was allowed to be left as a free man before heading in a near-post header to give Arsenal the lead was, if you’re of a Hammers persuasion, maddening. Thankfully, I am not, and able to enjoy the spoils of yet another headed goal from a corner.
Gabriel would be a nuisance as well in the build-up to the fifth goal, winning the penalty after receiving a smash from Lukasz Fabianski. His bravery in these situations whether under pressure, as he was in this instance, or not, as in the case of the first goal, should not be lost on anyone.
Both his goal involvements came at such a crucial time and this is far from it being the first time. Be it at Manchester City or Tottenham and other increasingly frequent examples, Gabriel is proving to be as important to this team as any of the top stars in Mikel Arteta’s plethora of talent.
Gabriel receiving that smash from Fabianski leading to Saka’s penalty conversion was perhaps the most important moment of the game. West Ham earned themselves a position that frankly no team should get when 4-0 down.
Of course, my mind was cast back to Newcastle and other ridiculous Arsenal instances of dropping leads. Four goals to the good and coasting, the threat of a comeback came as quickly as the Gunners’ third and fourth goals had arrived.
