There is a cruel irony as Arsenal prepares for their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Understandably, much of the focus among Gooners has been on Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of the tie against Los Blancos and the extent of his involvement over the two legs. At the very least, the 23-year-old appears ready to come off the bench and provide the kind of moment of magic often needed to progress in knockout football.
However, the recent confirmation that Gabriel is now ruled out for the season is equally significant. In ties of this magnitude, the finest of margins can be decisive, and it is a testament to the Brazilian’s development that his absence is seen as such a pivotal loss.
Yet, to operate at the highest level, a club must behave like one. Arsenal boasts a deep squad and employs the third highest-paid manager in world football, whose responsibility it is to find solutions. The issue, as it stands, is that Calafiori will not travel to Liverpool this weekend, while both Ben White and Jurrien Timber face late fitness tests before the squad is finalised.
Here are the options to partner with William Saliba on Tuesday:
Jakub Kiwior
When Gabriel went off injured against Liverpool at the Emirates, and Arsenal were already without Saliba through suspension, the atmosphere notably shifted as Jakub Kiwior prepared to come on. Despite costing £20 million and being a full Polish international, the trust in him has been lacking. In a role where players often mature later in their careers, the 25-year-old is still developing. If Mikel Arteta lacks faith in him, why was he signed? The manager’s approach has seemingly influenced fan perception, often discarding talent that doesn’t align with his tactical ethos. Kiwior is aware that Partey was moved out of midfield to accommodate a full-back in central defence, bypassing him. If he starts against Real Madrid, this could be a turning point — but the concern remains whether it will dampen the club’s ambition.
Ben White
Arteta has previously preferred White in central defence, even if it meant moving Partey to right-back. Although White began his career as a centre-back, his transition to full-back was seen as a tactical evolution. With Saka’s status uncertain, the temptation may be to play White on the right to reignite their understanding. According to Standard Sports Arteta indicated that White’s knee issue in midweek did not prevent him from training, so the injury does not appear serious. Nevertheless, having started only once since November, managing his minutes is essential.
Jurrien Timber
When Aston Villa visited the Emirates, Timber was shifted centrally and Partey deployed at right-back — again overlooking Kiwior. A journalist questioned the logic of not trusting a natural centre-back, to which Arteta responded, somewhat defensively, citing left/right footedness. Days later, Kiwior returned to the line-up. Timber has played centrally for both Ajax and the Netherlands, so fans’ concerns are more about what his inclusion might mean for midfield composition.
Riccardo Calafiori
Although unavailable for the weekend, Calafiori could return in time for Tuesday. Arteta has played poker with selections before. The 22-year-old is an Italian international who has shown promise but has yet to cement a defined role this season. If fit, his presence could allow White or Timber to remain at right-back. It’s unclear where he stands in the pecking order, but he is likely to be more defensively reliable than 18-year-old Lewis Skelly, who is frequently exposed and out of position, contributing to goals conceded.
Thomas Partey
If White and Timber are available, both will likely start. If not, Arteta may be forced into the contentious decision of using Partey at right-back. This is where a manager earns his salary, as these decisions can decide ties. While Partey has been competent in this role, the greater concern lies in losing control of midfield — particularly dangerous against Real Madrid. It’s, ultimately, a compliment to the 31-year-old that his presence is considered so essential in the centre of the pitch.
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Kiwior is in my opinion, our natural and best bet replacement to Gabi. Also very confident with his long range passes into opposition’s half as shown today.
Anyone but Kiwior. We have international CBs, if fit, in Tierney and Calafiori. White and Timber have played CB. So we have plenty of options. Even Rice. But not Kiwior, he is out of his depth.
For the purpose of better balance and on the performance of last two games, I will chose Kiwior. He isn’t Poland regular for no reason. I also believe he would have been much better if not for Gabriel that has been very good. I will prefer balance of both left & right footed Central defence.
Timber. Kiwior Saliba White.
For the purpose of experience I”ll prefer Timber to MLS on the left, White is strong to contend with Madrid wingers on the left.
I mean #White is strong to contend with Madrid wingers on the right
On the basis that Arteta will never start Tierney, but will see the light in terms of leaving out MSL, I would go along with your selection Sylva.
Wouldn’t surprise me if we beat Madrid .
Dan Kit,
Is your tongue firmly in your cheek there. 🤣😂👍😉
They are good but not God like. They get beaten. Lets respect them but not put them on a pedestal.
Reggie,
With them on pedestal’s, we’d have a better chance of beating them surely.😂🤣👍😉
You may be right.
It’s less about them but more a reflection on us
We need to play at a level over two legs rarely seen this season.
My preference: White, Saliba, Tierney/ Kiwior, Timber. I’d prefer Tierney to partner Saliba cos he has performed admirably there in the past. Kiwior is growing there, although it may be a tough ask to be able to contain Real Madrid firepower.
Merino.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Rice. Partey.
Skelly. Saliba. White. Timber.
Raya.
For Arteta some players must play irregardless of the obvious inadequacies and others must be on the bench no matter what.
It would be a waste of time thinking he will ever field a team on merit unless non of his favourites can play in those positions.
All we’ve remained with is hope. Let’s support whoever he fields and hope we win against Madrid.
Calafiori for me if he’s available and fit.
Apart from their UCL pedigree, Madrid haven’t been convincing this season at all. Their defense is suspect and their attack for me hasn’t lived up to the expectations. But then again Arsenal too has had their fair share of problems on field.
Kiwior.
Tierney, Saliba, White, Timber
(if fit)
Stephanie,
I would go with your back four as well. But sadly Arteta will ignore Tierney, just like he’s done for most of this season.
He may not be able to adapt to the inverted left back rubbish, but he’s still the best left back we’ve got in my opinion. And for these two Madrid games, Arteta needs to bite the bullet and play our best left back. End of story. 👍😉
No player in the Arsenal set up prove more important than Gabriel Magahlase this campaign.
Coming under heavey criticism from armchair managers and fans alike in his earlier Arsenal career, the Brazilian is more often than not the go to man when the going get tough.
Probably the first hand pick player at Arsenal by the gaffer, Arsenal chances of winning a game drops significantly when the powerful center back is absent, many fans might not remember that he formed a solid partnership with Ben White before the Englishman was ask to play wide to accommodate Saliba.
Great left sided center back are like rare gold and Arsenal will struggle to find a like player to deputize in his absence, my hope is for the young Italian Calafiori to make a miraculous recover to help sure up the back line as the cemetery of talents has an abundance attackers to punish us..
Gunsmoke,
I agree with everything you say. And I will also add that Gabriel should be the club captain.
He epitomizes everything you need in a club captain. He’s got presence, he’s got a voice, he plays with passion, and he just looks like a born leader.
Something the current club captain sadly fails in.👍😉
👍🏻👍🏻
Rubbish. Odegaard is a fine captain. He simply has a different personality from Gabriel.
David you can say rubbish if you like. But who out of Odegaard and Gabriel has been the most effective player. It’s an absolute no brainer.
Odegaard while he’s a good player, he certainly shouldn’t be the captain of this club. His performances have been non-existent for most of this season.
But no doubt you’ll come back at me, with your usual excuse making. Still it’ll make a change from you usually making excuses for Arteta.🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️
Odegaard is doing fine as a Captain
Babasola,
You’re easily pleased. He’s been totally underwhelming this season.
Lets see if he can turn up tonight and produce a captains performance.
I won’t be holding my breath.
Kiwior is the most comfortable at lcb but we could also play White or Timber who are originally CBs. Kiwior also i think is not able to lead Skelly and cover him.
Calafiori would be the immediate backup to
Gabriel but he is injured and unlikely to feature in either match.
How arteta continues to overlook tierney amazes me.Hes clearly the best lb
White would have a lot less running to do at CB, so even though he isn’t fully fit, I’d go with him and Saliba, and Timber at RB. If Timber isn’t fully fit, then it’ll have to be Kiwior at CB.
Who best to replace Arteta should of been the question here. 11 draws. 11 times Arteta’s team could not find a single goal to win a game. 22 points. The football is rigid, boring, nagative, slow, no intensity no nothing. Arteta is packing his bag already i hope after we’re smashed by Marid. I see no going forward under this manager
Kiwior will mark and distribute well, but will always make mistakes and defense requires PERFECTION. He was supposed to nod the ball versus Everton but left the ball and left Lewis -kelly with no option.
I can almost guarantee he will make a mistake leading to goal if he should play both leds
The back four v Madrid have to be White/Saliba/Timber/ Calafiori. No brainer Gooners. We should not esp meddle with Skelly in the face of battle hardened Madrid wingers. I think it is easier to find replacement for Maghales than previous injuries with Saka & Havertz. Liverpool took the title mostly due to Arsenal dropping points not only by the virtues of Liverpool. 11 draws for Arsenal awful tbh with 7 matches left. In Invincible season Arsenal drew 12 matches.
Timber at Ajax and National team play as a CB. So has better recent outings in that place than White. So Timber to partner Saliba. White at right FB. Both played v Mbappe at various Euro matches. They better know how to deal with Mbappe than White who never played against Mbappe. Calafiori and White should be fresh for Tuesday as they had fewer game time. Timber played through the season so playing him as a CB is plausible. Kiwior made crucial mistakes in certain Euro games esp v Sporting.
Good comment mate.I fully agree. Kiwior is decent sub just to only play him to protect Arsenal’s lead. He makes crucial mistakes that are too costly. I don’t trust him v the electric Mbappe. His game reading and positioning are awful. He has a subdued body language not befitting of a CB who traditionally should look ferocious.
When I see Kiwior’s name on the team sheet it makes me shiver.
He is a good player, but he makes the odd mistake and Madrid are too good to give chances to.
I hope he can get those errors out of his game.
If I remember correctly, Gabriel was aklso prone to the odd error when he joined and look at him now. Hopefully Kiwior can also develop (all be it taking a bit longer) the same way.
Looking at all the different selections here makes you realise that managers are on a hiding to nothing with whoever they pick as they are not going to please everyone. However I’ll put my twopennyworth in and say I do wish Arteta would pick Tierney for the Madrid games, but we know he won’t.