Pundit reveals that he’s noticed something interesting about Gabriel Magalhaes’ role for Arsenal

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Robbie Mustoe has revealed that he’s noticed something specific about Gabriel Magalhaes’ role in Arsenal’s set-piece routines.

The Gunners scored from yet another set-piece at the weekend when they beat Burnley at Turf Moor in the Premier League.

Declan Rice swung a corner to the back post before Gabriel played the ball back across goal to Viktor Gyokeres, who was on hand to nod in from a yard out.

The North Londoners have now scored from 12 dead-ball situations this season in all competitions, and Gabriel has played a prominent part in several of them.

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Robbie Mustoe says Gabriel has a free role from Arsenal’s set-pieces

Gabriel is arguably the most dangerous player in the opposition box from set-pieces in world football at the moment.

The Brazilian has scored more Premier League goals than any other defender since he made his debut in the English top flight in 2020, while he’s also now developing a knack for creating goals.

Registering three assists from corners so far this season, he’s comfortably one of the Gunners’ most threatening attacking players at the moment.

It’s clear that Gabriel is absolutely pivotal to Arsenal’s attacking set-pieces, but he’s also doing important work defending corners and free-kicks.

Speaking on the 2 Robbies Podcast, Robbie Mustoe claimed that he’s noticed that Gabriel is given complete freedom to run and attack the ball from both offensive and defensive set-pieces, while other players have set roles in occupying opposition players.

“So, yeah, just one thing I noticed, Rob, and for that first goal, no surprise, it was Gabriel who assisted, got first to the ball,” he said.

“And listen, he’s probably been doing it all season, but I just noticed how we’ve set pieces against, and particularly the throw-ins, Gabriel is absolutely free to go and head it.

“Everybody else has got a man, and he literally sprints to the ball and heads it clear. I bet he’s been doing that all season long, for set pieces and corners, I think, too.

“It’s almost like, okay, everyone’s got a man, but Gabriel, you’re the best, go and just get the timing of the ball or the flight of the ball and go and head it away.”

Gabriel Magalhaes’ attacking statistics compared to other centre-backs

The numbers clearly demonstrate that Gabriel is indeed one of the most lethal defenders inside the opposition’s box in world football.

Only 8% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues score more goals than him per 90 minutes, while only 3% generate more expected goals.

His creative numbers are also starting to blossom, with Mikel Arteta’s free role for him from corners clearly liberating him to consistently get to the ball.

Micah Richards recently claimed that he’d changed his mind on Gabriel for the good, after not being initially convinced by him, and the charismatic pundit isn’t the only one who has started to give the imperious 27-year-old his flowers.