The Jonjo Shelvey Conundrum

One summer, after half of a decade of service, Shelvey requested a transfer. Being magnanimous, Henry was willing to allow him a dream move. Eventually, Barcelona came knocking, in true Catalan style, with £24m. “No,” Henry says. "That’s insane. He’s 27. He just won the Ballon D’Or." Counter. £75m. Barca are having none of it.

£28m, they reply. This doesn’t make any sense. “What kind of Cesc Fabregas bullshit is going on,” he laughs to me. £68m, he counters-back.

£35m. Final offer. Henry stopped dead in his tracks.

For a player of such stature, £35m was comically low. It made no sense. But in what world did it makes sense for Jonjo Shevley to have earned a move to Barcelona? Perhaps Anthony Gordon has shown us anything is possible. Regardless.

Henry accepted the offer. Barcelona, even in a fantasy, knew there was something afoot about the entire Shelvey evolution, and the money didn’t matter to Henry, who’d already banked an essentially limitless transfer budget. So off to Catalonia Jonjo went, where he reverted back to the 78 he always was within three seasons.

Mikel Arteta has broken Gabriel. He turned a 76 (with 82 potential) into a legit 86 with intangibles that make him greater than the sum of his statistics. He is a threat, though that has far more to do with the delivery, from set-pieces and is a fearless defender of the box in a low/mid-block. The energy and focus he gives to those around him is dependable and enforces a standard of competitiveness on the pitch.

He also benefits greatly from playing next to William Saliba, who constantly covers for him technically. And that’s a problem in what is still, despite misconceptions, a possession-heavy side. The Brazilian was not helped with Calafiori’s absence, as his partnership on the left side with Hincapie is brutal on the ball, and proved a main point of failure in Arsenal’s inability to get a foot-hold against PSG. Gabriel's struggles with intermediate and long passes, playing one-touch under intense pressing, and competently using his right foot were under a microscope. Pressure penalties too, I suppose. But I don't care about that.

The "internet" took some time this World Cup to collectively dunk on Gabriel for the way he, and Brazil, were knocked out of the competition. Some strays regarding his missed spotkick also circulated quite gleefully amongst the 'Goyim' (anyone that isn't an Arsenal fan). I told my girlfriend Cesca, the night before the Brazil/Norway match, "Haaland is gonna put one on Gabriel's head-top. Guaranteed." I wanted her to be prepared—it was not about denigrating Arsenal's #6. It's the truth. But I don't mark that against Gabriel.

It has always been my impression that Haaland has relished his battles with the Brazilian, who aims to impose himself physically and emotionally over his opponents. That sort of competition brings the best out of the Norwegian, and Gabriel was the unfortunate victim of the prowess of what is one of the best Strikers to ever play. If anything, Haaland's world class performances are a sign of respect. He raises his game.

Usually quite robust, Gabriel has shown slight signs of physical decline over the past seasons, and it wouldn't be surprising if his athletic peak is behind him. For a player like him, a CB that defends man-to-man better than he defends space, that could be costly. His lack of advanced ability on the ball also means he may not age as gracefully. Still, at nearly every turning point Gabriel has risen to the occasion and broken through the glass ceiling that others may have imposed.

Now is, at least theoretically, the perfect time to sell in the event of a big money offer, say £75m. Gabriel is far more replaceable internally—Calafiori, Hincapie—than perhaps realized, and there are a bevy of LCBs that could be brought in at a reasonable price—Nico Schlotterbeck, Alessandro Bastoni, Ousmane Diomande, Castello Lukeba. All four dwarf Gabriel in ability on the ball, Schlotterbeck and Bastoni in particular, and none have athletic deficiencies so grave they don't represent a relatively seamless upgrade in the medium and long-term.

In reality, the potential transfer is complicated. William Saliba's anticipated long-term absence means Arsenal's focus needs to be on incoming players, and losing Gabriel's experience and guaranteed floor of performance would be risky. He is also an emotional pillar of the team, and while there are leaders abound, upsetting the emotional dynamic of a squad recently united by hard-won victory may not be wise.

In different circumstances, this would be the summer that an elite-level franchise would sell-high on an overvalued asset. Bill Belichick style. See ya later, Richard Seymour. Enjoy Oakland (Atletico Madrid). In Arsenal's circumstance, the move can be understandably delayed a season, but there could be a legitimate loss in profit upon said re-visitation.