Arsenal 3-1 Valencia: 5 Talking Points

#4 Gabriel's return to Emirates

Arsenal v Valencia - UEFA Europa League Semi Final: First Leg

He might not be the most popular player for Arsenal, but the fans would surely remember him for one thing - his bad relationship with Diego Costa. When the latter was a player for Chelsea, there were many instances where the duo were at loggerheads on the pitch. In one particular match, the defender even received his marching orders.

Prior to the match, the center-back claimed that he deserved more chances at Arsenal. His career with the Gunners was relatively short-lived. Joining from Villarreal in 2015, the Brazilian left in 2017 for Valencia. When he was an Arsenal player, Gabriel was never quite a regular starter for the team. Unless there were injuries, he was normally on the bench.

Now in Spain, the 28-year-old has played the majority of the games, making 41 appearances in all competitions. Gabriel has finally found his place in a team which values his contributions. Arsenal captain, Laurent Koscielny, had called for support for his former team-mate as he made his return to the stadium which he used to play in.

Gabriel is not the only former Arsenal player who now plays for Los Che. Francis Coquelin is the other who also returned as a former player of the club, but he was suspended for the first-leg clash due to the accumulation of yellow cards.