Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has improved so many players over the years.
It’s often forgotten that this is the Spaniard’s first-ever job in management. He had to go through the pandemic and all sorts of changes at the club in his first few years.
However, Arteta overcame all of that and made Arsenal contenders to win the Premier League title. He has developed players brilliantly as well.
One of them has now had his say on the Arsenal manager.
Gabriel Magalhaes explains how Mikel Arteta brought out his ‘best version’ at Arsenal
Arsenal signed Gabriel Magalhaes in the summer of 2020.
Nobody really knew the Brazilian when he first arrived here in England, but he has been incredible for the Gunners. He is one of their most consistent performers and has improved every season.
Gabriel, alongside William Saliba, has formed the best defensive partnership in the Premier League and perhaps even in Europe.
The former Lille man deserves a lot of praise for how he has improved, but he has had difficulties along the way too over the years.
Gabriel has made mistakes at Arsenal, cost his side a few goals and was even dropped at the start of the 2023/24 season when there was speculation about his future amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
Arteta and Gabriel have dealt with all of the above together, and the latter has now hailed his manager for bringing out his best version.
When asked how much impact Arteta has had on his development, Gabriel told TNT Sports in Brazil: “I think a lot of things, it’s hard to say how much.
“But a lot, how much he helped me, how much he spoke to me every day, he pulled my ear, he said it was like this, like that, and I was sure he was angry, but I put it in my head that it was for my own good.
“So today, for sure, everything I’ve improved, everything I’ve gone through, the best version, I believe he has a lot, he’s a big part of it, not just him, but all the coaching staff at Arsenal and also the players.”
Arsenal could soon have a Saliba and Gabriel problem
If you’re talking about the best defenders in the world, Saliba and Gabriel’s names have to be in the conversation.
The two centre-halves are among the first names on Arteta’s team sheet every week, and they are integral to the club, not just for now but for the future as well.
The problem Arsenal could soon have with Saliba and Gabriel is that both players will enter the final two years of their contracts in 2025.
Allowing them to do so would be a very risky move, especially with clubs like Real Madrid chasing Saliba and potentially even Gabriel too.
Edu Gaspar has to start contract talks with the two defenders as soon as possible. Letting them into their final two years could end up backfiring.
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