Scholes takes aim at Arsenal's Gabriel

Paul Scholes didn't hold back. The phrase, a well-worn one in punditry circles, is usually reserved for defenders who push the laws of the game as far as they'll bend without a whistle following. Scholes chose Gabriel Magalhaes as his target, according to Football365, after Arsenal's win over Chelsea.

The excerpt available doesn't specify which challenge, tackle or moment triggered the comment, and there's no confirmation Gabriel was booked or even spoken to by the referee during the match. That matters, because 'gets away with murder' is doing a lot of work as a soundbite without the incident attached to back it up on this occasion.

A familiar reputation

This isn't the first time Gabriel's physical approach has drawn attention. The Brazilian centre-back has built his Arsenal career on exactly that: aggressive, front-foot defending that unsettles forwards rather than sitting off them. So far in 2025/26, Gabriel has made 4 appearances across all competitions with 1 goal, numbers that reflect a defender still heavily involved at both ends of the pitch this early in the season, not one hiding from contact.

That willingness to get stuck in is precisely what splits opinion. Fans see a defender who reads the game aggressively and rarely gets exposed for it. Critics like Scholes see a player who benefits from lenient refereeing standards that a lesser-regarded name might not.

Where this leaves Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's side sit second in the Premier League table, level on form with three wins from three and a goal difference of plus five. Gabriel has been a fixture in that defence, and any suggestion referees are giving him rope will follow Arsenal into their next few fixtures, where every contested penalty shout or missed card against him will now be read through Scholes' comment.

Whether that's a fair charge or simply routine defensive aggression getting the pundit treatment is the actual debate here. Scholes didn't lay out the specific passages of play, and without that context it's hard to say whether this is a genuine officiating blind spot or just a former midfielder needling a defender who had a big say in beating Chelsea.