Now back in the Arsenal first team for the first time since he threw his chance away in the autumn, Gabriel has insisted he won’t make the same error that saw him dropped from the side again.

After an altercation with Diego Costa, the Brazilian defender was sent off and lost his place to the tried and tested partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Gabriel, though, feels it was a brief slip as his competitive nature got the best of him.

“The thing is, I’m a very calm guy, but when I enter the pitch it’s something different,” said the 25-year-old. “We are a little transformed.

“But it was just the heat of the moment, and a moment of learning too. I learned a lot from it. I’ve caused problems to my team, but I know I’ve made a mistake.

“This whole thing is behind me now and it will never happen again. Now we must move on. It’s in the past. I don’t hate anyone and he [Costa] knows that. It’s part of football.”

489096254 gabriel of arsenal walks off the pitch in gettyimages
Gabriel was sent off at Stamford Bridge this season after being provoked by Diego Costa. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Nobody thought Gabriel hated anyone but there’s little doubt that the moment got the better of him. We can only hope it really was a learning curve.

However, there is more to worry about as far as the former Villarreal man is concerned. For instance, his performance against Watford in the FA Cup defeat last month. Twice in the first half Gabriel put in incredibly dangerous tackles and, truthfully, was incredibly fortunate to stay on the pitch.

There’s a difference between being reckless and losing your temper and the errors against Watford were certainly the former rather than the sort of mistake he made when facing Chelsea and being outsmarted by Diego Costa. Nonetheless, they are still errors which could cost the Gunners.

Between now and then we haven’t seen Gabriel riled and that, at least, is some form of progress.