Gabriel - Why a derby is so different

By Lloyd Webb

Gabriel says the intensity of derby matches means that players approach their preparation differently to other games.

The defender has played in high-profile clashes in Brazil and Spain and could feature in his first north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

Gabriel knew about the significance of the derby before he arrived at the club, and promised that the Gunners will be up for the game against Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

“What they tell me about the history and importance of derbies is that it’s a rivalry that is really big,” he told Arsenal.com. “It’s also about the history that Arsenal has of giving all it has in every match, of being determined.

“I think you enter the pitch differently in a derby, you prepare yourself during the week in a totally different way. You go in with your head thinking differently and everything is very different.

"You’re much more focused and the same happens with the rivals. That’s what makes it such a difficult, complicated game for both sides.”