Jamie Carragher has called Gabriel Maghalaes the most influential player in the Premier League and has backed the Arsenal defender to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
Gabriel has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s run to the top of the Premier League table. After nine games, the Gunners have conceded just three goals, with only one of those from open play.
The Brazil international has also been a huge threat at the opposite end, scoring a last-gasp winner at Newcastle United last month, in addition to opening the scoring in last week’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.
Carragher believes the presence of Gabriel in both boxes makes him the most important player in the Premier League right now.
“It feels like set-pieces are going to continue to be a big theme. There is no team more primed to win the Premier League if this is the way the league is going,” he said on Sky Sports’ Extra Time show.
“This Arsenal team have been built to cope with situations like this, in terms of the height of the team and their power.
100 – Arsenal have gone 100 consecutive games in all competitions without conceding three goals in a game, just the second English league team to ever achieve this feat, along with Man Utd between October 2016 and August 2018 (107). Security. pic.twitter.com/tZyWlBBRhg
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“For a long time I’ve said Arteta has been trying to win the league like a Jose Mourinho team. There is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is winning.
“Gabriel is the leader. He’s a colossus at the back and the best set-piece threat. This happens every game. He’s the best defender in a team that produces the best defensive numbers.
“I think Gabriel is the most influential player in the Premier League right now.
“If Arsenal are to win the Premier League, he will be on course to win the PFA Player of the Year. He’s the No 1 contender.”
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