Riccardo Calafiori: Why Gabriel Magalhaes inspired his big moment during Arsenal v Everton

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Riccardo Calafiori is firmly among Arsenal’s best performers this season but he’s paid homage to fellow defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

Calafiori produced a remarkable block at the weekend to prevent Everton scoring and in the end, it proved a huge moment in the game as Arsenal won 2-0.

However, while Calafiori had his moment, he’s admitted that when it comes to last ditch defending, Gabriel is the man to admire.

Where does Gabriel Magalhaes rank amongst the greatest Arsenal centre-backs of the Premier League era?

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Riccardo Calafiori praises Gabriel’s will to defend

“We love to defend our house, our goal and we try to do everything. I think for me it’s quite new, what I did on Saturday.

“But I think Gabi is for sure the best in terms of putting his body to save our team. We need to learn from him. Obviously he’s a top player, I don’t need to speak about him,” Calafiori told the press ahead of facing Bayer Leverkusen.

Adding further comments on the weekend and Max Dowman’s winner, the Italian admitted it was a huge moment.

“I was so, so happy at the end of the game – especially with the second goal. We were all happy, we ran towards him and the fans. It was almost a fight with the fans – in a nice way, obviously. It was amazing. Maybe the best moment of the season so far, at least in the Premier League, for sure.”

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Gabriel among the league’s best for blocks made

Arsenal might not need to be at their brilliant best in terms of defending during certain games but it doesn’t mean Gabriel doesn’t do his job in terms of blocks.

James Tarkowski leads the way in the league with 39 blocks this season but Gabriel is in the top ten, with 25 made.

Interestingly among the top ten, it is Gabriel who actually leads the way – other than Malik Thiaw – in terms of actual shots blocked. That in itself shows just how good the Brazilian is at preventing the ball hitting the back of the net.

When this season is all said and done, Gabriel will have proven as important as anyone this season.