The Arsenal and Brazil international centre back Gabriel still has an FA charge to answer, despite the English football authorities´ decision to uphold the club´s appeal against the red card shown to him by Mike Dean at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
But our defender has until tomorrow to reply to the other charge of improper conduct about how he reacted after being sent off against Chelsea. The chances are, therefore, that he will still be handed a ban of some length. Perhaps it will be for just one game but we really do not know what the FA will do because I never expected them to rescind his red card and a lot of people are surprised that they have handed Costa a retrospective red and a three game ban.
So I think that Arsene Wenger really has to start Gabriel tonight, while he still can. With games coming thick and fast for Arsenal and Per Mertesacker only just available again after his illness, squad rotation could be vital. So Wenger could rest Koscielny against the spuds and then Gabriel will be out for Leicester but can then play in the Champions League, giving the BFG a rest after two games in quick succession.
And if the FA decide to be nice to Gabriel again, we will take that as a nice bonus.