Tony Adams has told Sky Sports that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta needs to play Rob Holding and Gabriel together at the back for the Gunners.
Arteta has switched between a three and a four man defence throughout the season for Arsenal.
But Adams feels that the Gunners would be far better suited to picking a flat back four.
And the Arsenal legend thinks that Gabriel and Holding could be a brilliant pairing, if they were backed to start together more regularly.
“I think if he concentrates on the back four and gets them in place,” Adams said.
“I think Holding and Gabriel looks like a fantastic new partnership. Put them together. You have two central defenders there.”
Holding and Gabriel have played together this season but they have generally been used in a three-man defence.
In Arsenal’s last game against Aston Villa they were accompanied by Kieran Tierney at the back, but they were exposed badly by Dean Smith’s side.
Arsenal fell to a 3-0 defeat, with Arteta’s men failing to deal with Villa’s attacking quality.
That was arguably the most Gabriel has struggled since moving to Arsenal.
The Brazilian has looked an excellent addition since arriving in the summer, and there are high expectations for him at the Emirates Stadium now.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
