User blog comment:B214/Volume 23 discussion blog/@comment-139.190.27.252-20170321092843/@comment-29963364-20170321210618

Issei would definitely be distracted. Him losing conciousness from blood-loss is a real possibility. But if the situation absolutely called for it, Issei could face her and win.

The Trihexa & Evil Dragon War changed Issei. It left him with a more mature out-look on how he should fight from now on. If he faces an enemy, he will go for the kill. Because he now knows that that's what it will take to protect the people he cares about.

I'm not saying he will have this attitude if he ever faces Gabriel, but I do believe that this new mentality would make Issei more capable then he would've been a few volumes earlier.