Arsenal is not going to have an easy time breaking down Olympiakos. But they have to defend too. And not like Mertesacker does. It is time for Gabriel Paulista.
There are few things in this world that I am absolutely, positively sure about. I am not absolutely, positively sure that America ever made it to the moon. I am not absolutely, positively sure that Lil Wayne is Illuminati. I am not absolutely, positively sure that dragons are real. But I am absolutely, positively, 100% sure beyond a reasonable doubt that Gabriel Paulista should start against Olympiakos.
All that means is that I will be absolutely, positively, 100% disgusted when Per Mertesacker gets the trot out instead.
I like Per Mertesacker. I really do. He is a great guy. He is a great leader. He has tremendous positioning skills and the ability to absorb all kinds of pressure for Arsenal. But he is slow. He is so agonizingly slow. When he is in pursuit, you might as well write him off.
Against Olympiakos, Arsenal is going to be “going for it” according to Arsene Wenger (via the Guardian). That means they are going to be peppering the Greek’s penalty area and holding a very high line. That means that a counter attack from the opposition will come at some point. When that point comes and Arsenal is left trying to keep up with the Greek forwards, who are you going to call? Not Per Mertesacker. You are going to want the Brazilian bull mastiff chasing down the ball. He has made so many amazing tackles in his short time with the club, mostly on Romelu Lukaku, that it is a wonder why he is not used in such situations more frequently.
Arsenal is going to have their defense hanging out at midfield. They are going to need that defense to contribute to the attack and still be able to recover. That means Gabriel Paulista.
Arsenal is also going to need a fierce threat on set-pieces, both friendly and not. That means Gabriel Paulista.
There is nothing about this game that spells Per Mertesacker. That is not an indictment of his quality, it is just an observation. Granted, I have been preaching for Gabriel to get the nod ahead of Mertesacker for quite some time now, I still value what the German has to offer. Just not in Greece when Arsenal is going to be bombarding forward.
Arsene Wenger has to show that he can adjust. He flirted with such radical practices early in the year, but since that time he has had no options to display his new-found affinity for change. This time, he must make that change. Gabriel Paulista absolutely, positively must start for Arsenal.
