Gabriel backed to REPLACE struggling Per Mertesacker in Arsenal back four

FRANK McLINTOCK believes that it's time for Gabriel to step up and replace struggling Per Mertesacker for Arsenal.

Gabriel Paulista Player Profile

The former Gunners captain is worried by Mertesacker's lacklustre form in recent weeks.

And after spending the first half of the season with no real alternative to the German international after selling Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona, McLintock says it's time to put Gabriel to work.

He told Perform: "It wouldn't be harder to be tighter at the back.

"Mertesacker obviously has a lot of caps and he's been a wonderful player for Germany, but he's not had his best season.

Per MertesackerGETTY

Per Mertesacker has struggled this season

We should have had a ready-made replacement and hopefully Gabriel can be the guy.

Frank McLintock

"He hasn't been at his best, although he played well [against West Ham] on Saturday, and the new boy Gabriel has come in but he hasn't really been tested out a great deal.

"He looked mobile, put in a fantastic tackle a couple of weeks ago [against Everton] so I like the look of him. He's got to have the time to settle down as that was a position that was causing us a problem.

"We lost Vermaelen and why we didn't replace him I'll never know.

"We should have had a ready-made replacement and hopefully Gabriel can be the guy."

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