Mikel Arteta’s team for Tuesday’s Champions League showdown against Real Madrid largely picks itself - but the Arsenal manager still has one big decision to make.
The absence of Gabriel, who will miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, leaves a gaping hole in defence and gives Arteta a huge headache.
The Arsenal boss has three options available, with Riccardo Calafiori also out because of a knee issue.
Jakub Kiwior, who started Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Everton, is the natural replacement and would cause minimal disruption to the rest of the defence.
Arteta, however, could move one of Ben White and Jurrien Timber from right-back to the centre-back as both have experience of playing there.
“We have alternatives there,” Arteta said on Saturday after the draw at Everton. “Today, we had players that haven’t played together, so that cohesion hasn’t been there.
“Ben especially hasn’t played at all almost this season, so it’s good that they have the minutes and that understanding. We will assess what are the best options for that backline.”
Kiwior certainly did his chances of starting against Real Madrid no harm by impressing against Everton.
On a flat afternoon at Goodison Park, the Poland international was a rare positive and was named man of the match by broadcaster TNT Sports.
He finished the game with a pass completion rate of 94 per cent, which was a tally only bettered by William Saliba.
Kiwior only gave the ball away four times and also comfortably topped the charts when it came to passes into the final third.
The 25-year-old made 10 of those, six more than any player from either side, and one beautiful ball over the top that found Leandro Trossard drew an outstanding save from Jordan Pickford.
Saturday will have done Kiwior’s confidence the world of good on what was his first Premier League start since December.
Trusting him against Real Madrid will be tempting for Arteta because he can simply slot into Gabriel’s role.
Arteta is a fan of keeping changes to a minimum - following the philosophy of why move two pieces when one will do - and that plays into Kiwior’s hands.
Kiwior showcased his talent on the ball against Everton and it is no surprise that he has previously played in midfield during his career.
Arteta could, though, justifiably have reservations about Kiwior’s ability to deal physically with what Real Madrid will bring on Tuesday.
Against Everton, Kiwior won one duel and lost three. In contrast, his centre-back partner, William Saliba, won eight duels and lost one. Mikel Merino was the only Arsenal player to win more duels than Saliba.
Kiwior’s style means he can compliment Saliba, but there is undoubtedly an argument that White should start instead of him.
Timber is another option, but the Dutchman is probably Arsenal’s best one-on-one defender and so it may be wise to keep him at right-back given the threat of Vinicius Junior.
White joined Arsenal as a centre-back and formed an excellent partnership with Gabriel before moving to right-back at the start of the 2022-23 season.
He remains an option in the heart of defence, though, and played there back in October against Liverpool when Saliba was suspended.
Saliba usually plays as a right centre-back, but he operates on the left for France and could slide across for Arsenal to make way for White.
Such a set up requires more moving pieces and Arteta would have to trust White’s fitness. Saturday was the first time since November that he has started a game.
White got through 60 minutes and the rust that was apparent in his previous appearances seems to be going.
Handing White a start against Real Madrid, who will have Kylian Mbappe upfront, may feel like a bold and brave call by Arteta - but he has the pedigree to step up.
Against Liverpool in October, he was one of Arsenal’s better players and created Bukayo Saka’s opening goal with a brilliant pass from deep. White went on to finish the game with a better pass completion rate than any other Arsenal player.
A player of White’s mentality would also prove valuable in a game that Arsenal go into as clear underdogs.
White is regarded as one of, if not the best, trainer at Arsenal and Arteta has famously said how he trains every day like it is the Champions League final.
If the Gunners have serious aspirations of reaching this season’s finale in Munich, then they will need everyone - especially whoever replaces Gabriel - to step up.
