Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny displayed an impeccable defensive performance as a duo against Newcastle. While plaudits were fair and understood, the two are far from a perfect pairing on paper and require testing at a more competitive level. In fact, their cohesive 90 minutes together was largely spent against a striker-less, 10-man side. That is not to discredit the performance, rather the hyperbole surrounding the pairing.
Gabriel and Koscielny are extremely similar centre-backs, stylistically speaking. They are aggressive, rapid and eager to break a defensive line to intercept passes. While those are desirable traits in a centre-back, they are not in a pairing. Imagine two central defenders breaking a defensive line to intercept passes – one ball over the top could leave an opposition player completely unmarked with a clear run at goal. Additionally, imagine two central defenders exerting their aggressive styles in a closely contested game; it would be a race to see who gets cautioned or sent off first. There has to be a calming figure and, while they can attempt to curb their natural aggressive instincts, it would be like asking one of the two to change their style entirely and that would not benefit the performance level of the player.
In his final season at Villarreal, Gabriel stepped in for an injured Mateo Musacchio. While his aggressive nature was impressive and easy on the eye, he was allowed to shine due to the calming presence of Victor Ruiz. Ruiz was calm on the ball, held his position and covered for Gabriel when the Brazilian stepped out-of-place to intercept passes. Every aggressive defender needs that security. Nicolas Otamendi, who was by and large the most aesthetically pleasing defender in Europe last season, was able to play in his aggressive manner due to Shkodran Mustafi’s ataractic style. There are examples all over Europe where two aggressive centre-backs rarely ever work to a high level together; the safer, more benefit-reaping option is to mix two styles.
The Gabriel-Koscielny partnership can be groomed into a functional and fruitful defensive unit, but it will take time and testing against opposition that are not handicapped. Mistakes have to be afforded to the two and, for a while, it could be that every time the two are announced on the same team-sheet a grimace from the fan base follows. The language barrier is concerning, also. There could be a lot of toe treading from one another due to a lack of coherent communication – something that Per Mertesacker adds to the defence in abundance. He is an organiser, mediator and calming presence. Not a flashy, swashbuckling defender but a necessity in any duo. That is why, until Gabriel’s English improves, it may be smart for him to play only when Koscielny is tired or injured. His partner should be Mertesacker – someone who can lend a hand, lead and vocalise issues in a more universal manner.
If one looks at Laurent Koscielny’s previous pairing with another aggressive defender – Thomas Vermaelen – it is clear that he functions at a distinctively low-level. While the Belgian was outright gung-ho and positionally undisciplined, Koscielny’s natural game was restricted to a point where he was continuously making mistakes and clearly suffering from an inner conflict of whether to step forward from defence or not. Neither individual shone – and the partnership less so. To have that uncertainty in a pairing once again, when Arsenal have been spoilt rotten with the stylistic mesh of Mertesacker-Koscielny, would be devastatingly painful.
I have previously written that Gabriel is the heir to Koscielny once the Frenchman either declines or seeks greener pastures, and I think that is why he was signed. The praise hurled toward the partnership after one game is massively exaggerated; they need to be tested against different systems and strikers – of which Newcastle had none. If they storm those tests and prove to be a formidable partnership, then it could very well be the start of something beautiful. But, until then, hyperbole should be kept to a minimum when discussing the pairing rather than the individual performances.
