After the opening couple of weeks of fixtures across Europe’s top-five leagues, two Arsenal signings made WhoScored’s top-10 debutant list.
According to WhoScored’s statistical evaluation, both Gabriel Magalhaes and Willian made it into their debutant XI across Europe’s top-five leagues for their respective positions. Former Gunner Emi Martinez also made the team.
🧤 Emilano Martinez
🎯 Gabriel
🔑 Willian
🤩 Leroy SaneFor @guardian_sport, @martinlaurence7 takes a look at the best-rated debutants from across Europe’s top five leagues 👇https://t.co/S986zjvWX8 pic.twitter.com/JsChldpcNb
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 26, 2020
Both Willian and Gabriel also made it into the top-10 article on The Guardian, based on the WhoScored XI. Martinez was the one player to miss out from the initial team.
Martin Laurence wrote that Gabriel made an “excellent debut” despite the initial surprise that he was in the lineup so soon. He completed more passes than any other player on the opening weekend, as well as his goal and the clean sheet.
As for Willian, Laurence wrote that the winger was “brilliant”, immediately winning over many Arsenal fans after his move from Chelsea. With two assists, hitting the woodwork and misplacing just one pass, it was certainly a strong start.
The two have tougher tests to come. We already saw West Ham put the pair under pressure, but Liverpool are up next – twice. It doesn’t get much bigger than consecutive games away to the league champions.