For the past 25 years, every Premier League champion had a talisman. It is unlikely you will finish first if you don’t have that one player to propel you to the top of the table. This could be the first year it is a defender — Gabriel for Arsenal.

2000-01: David Beckham

2001-02: Thierry Henry

2002-03: Ruud van Nistelrooy

2003-04: Thierry Henry

2004-05: Frank Lampard

2005-06: Frank Lampard

2006-07: Wayne Rooney

2007-08: Cristiano Ronaldo

2008-09: Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-10: Didier Drogba

2010-11: Wayne Rooney

2011-12: Sergio Aguero

2012-13: Robin van Persie

2013-14: Sergio Aguero

2014-15: Eden Hazard

2015-16: Jamie Vardy

2016-17: Diego Costa

2017-18: Sergio Aguero

2018-19: Sergio Aguero

2019-20: Mohamed Salah

2020-21: Kevin De Bruyne

2021-22: Kevin De Bruyne

2022-23: Erling Haaland

2023-24: Rodri

2024-25: Mohamed Salah

2025-26: Gabriel?

The talisman does not have to be the top scorer. You see their name and picture their team lifting the trophy. They are the face of that team’s season.

They are the kind of player whose absence makes you sigh and think, “This is going to be a long day.” They are the one you’d feel nervous not seeing walk out of the tunnel with the rest of the starters.

Arsenal have enough depth. Their B team could challenge for a Premier League title. But when you picture a goal from a set piece, you see Gabriel.

A team without a talisman isn’t competing for the title — it’s waiting for next season to begin.