Jamie Carragher has declared Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes the most influential player in the Premier League, following the Brazilian's commanding return to action on Tuesday night.
Dream Return for Arsenal's Defensive Rock
Gabriel made a spectacular comeback to the Gunners' starting line-up after missing six league games with a hamstring injury. His impact was immediate, as he scored the opening goal in a emphatic 4-1 victory over title rivals Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
The former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit was effusive in his praise, suggesting the win carried significant psychological weight for Mikel Arteta's squad. "It felt like more than three points, psychologically," Carragher stated. "The feeling around the training ground tomorrow will be completely different."
Carragher and Arteta Unite in Praise
Carragher's bold claim was based on the transformative effect Gabriel has on the Arsenal side. "Gabriel being back is huge," he continued. "Before I've said that he's the most influential player in the Premier League, and we've seen it again tonight. It was fantastic for everybody in that stadium."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta echoed this sentiment, highlighting the difficulty of Gabriel's task against a dangerous Villa attack. "He comes back from an injury of six weeks that probably should have been a bit longer," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. "He plays against probably the team that is the hardest to control... and he impacted the game in an incredible way, both defending and in the opposition box."
Injury Boost and Title Race Implications
The win solidified Arsenal's position at the top of the Premier League table, with their next fixture an away trip to Bournemouth on Saturday. Arteta will be hoping for more positive news on the injury front, with key midfielder Declan Rice a potential returnee.
Rice missed the Villa clash with a knee issue picked up in the 2-1 win over Brighton. While not considered long-term, the swelling required monitoring. "It depends," Arteta said regarding Rice's availability. "The swelling has to come right down for him to have the chance to function. He's improving but let's see what happens in the next couple of days."
With their defensive linchpin back and a crucial victory secured, Arsenal's title credentials received a major boost, just as the campaign enters a decisive phase.
