'He should be more dominant' - Gabriel slammed for 'costing' Arsenal in loss to Fulham after failing to 'attack the ball' before Bobby De Cordova-Reid winner

The Gunners fell 2-1 to Fulham on New Year's Eve, despite going ahead through a Bukayo Saka goal, after the Cottagers pulled off a stunning comeback. Raul Jimenez equalised just before the half-hour mark before a defensive lapse from Gabriel paved the way for De Corodova-Reid to score the eventual winner in the second half. The Brazilian defender was made to pay dearly after he failed to attack a cross from the right, and a meek deflection then fell into the path of De Cordova-Reid, who scored from close range.

Arsenal legend Wright tore into Gabriel for the error on Premier League Productions, stating: "You know what I am thinking, because Gabriel Magalhaes is such a big guy. De Cordova-Reid is a smaller guy. I thought he should be more dominant in the situation. Once the ball comes over, it’s over his head, he has to be moving to attack it.

"Go towards to attack the ball instead of waiting. You look at the space he is in, he doesn’t move out of that space the whole time and that can’t be right. You have got to defend. You have got to be on the move, ready to head something and react to it. Those margins of getting something wrong have cost them.”

It was a costly lapse from Gabriel as the goal condemned Arsenal to their second consecutive defeat in the Premier League. The Gunners find themselves down in fourth spot at the end of 2023, two points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and just a point ahead of derby rivals Tottenham in fifth place.

The Gunners will be eager to get back to winning ways and keep their title ambitions alive when they take on another London outfit, Crystal Palace, on January 20. Before that, though, Mikel Arteta's men will have to focus on an FA Cup third round clash against Liverpool next Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.