They feared the worst.
As Gabriel approached the fourth official at the beginning of the second half of Arsenal’s draw with Manchester City on Sunday, Arsenal fans were united in a sense of “not this again!”
Arguably the more dependable defender, Laurent Koscielny, had picked up a knock late in the first half of the clash at the Emirates and needed to be withdrawn.
Gabriel replaced him shortly before the other central defender, Shkodran Mustafi, scored a crucial equaliser.
The game finished 2-2, leaving City eleven points behind leaders Chelsea and Arsenal a further seven behind Pep Guardiola’s side.
But when Koscielny didn’t emerge from the tunnel at the start of the second 45, the home support expected to find themselves on the receiving end of a rout.
You may remember how Koscielny’s absence affected the Gunners during their humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich last month.
Arsenal succumbed to a 10-2 aggregate defeat against the Bundesliga giants but, remarkably, Arsene Wenger’s side won the pair of games while Koscielny was on the pitch.
The first leg was finely poised at 1-1 before the French centre-half was forced off with an injury shortly after half-time while Arsenal led 1-0 in the second leg when Koscielny was shown a red card.
And when the 31-year-old couldn’t continue against City on Sunday, fans began freaking out although they needn’t have worried as they didn’t concede in his absence… This time.
https://twitter.com/sonnysantino89/status/848565909849591811
https://twitter.com/AlexisIwobi/status/848565946566533121
Gabriel on for Koscielny….we know how well that always goes #bayern
— Jiff (@notoriousJFE) April 2, 2017
Loooooool Gabriel for Koscielny?! Last time we did this was against Bayern and we conceded 4 in about 9 minutes 😂😂😂
— . (@DaleBrogan) April 2, 2017
Koscielny out for the 2nd half…
Are we playing Bayern? 😭😭😭😭
— Granit Unbothered King (@olu_sakin) April 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/leahhirst/status/848566088694738948
Koscielny coming off – it's Bayern all over again
— James (@scarbs11) April 2, 2017
Koscielny injured. Bayern Munich 3.0. (Happened twice already)
— ✨Benny Blanco💫 🇵🇸🤲🏿 (@Jabz_DaLastKing) April 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/AneesYounis/status/848566126279786498
https://twitter.com/iamdarryltaylor/status/848566135339593728
Koscielny going off? Why? That went so well against Bayern… #ARSMCI
— Kyle Archer (@KyleG51) April 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/AFCKoyes/status/848566176871481349
I remember what happened when Koscielny went off against Bayern. 🙃
— McCringleberry (@arthurmaklovin) April 2, 2017
Just when you think it can't get worse, we now lose Kos for the second half. Repeat of Bayern? #koscielny
— Gooner Tony (@EssexTone) April 2, 2017
Gabriel on for Koscielny! Its gonna be Bayern all over again!
— Ali Stevenson (@AliStevenson86) April 2, 2017
