22 August 2023 , 14:52
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Arsenal are hoping their clear stance on Gabriel will defuse any uncertainty around the Brazil defender’s future.
Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad presented Gabriel and his representatives with a big-money offer which was relayed to Arsenal. Centre-half Gabriel did not start either of Arsenal’s opening two Premier League games and there was a fear that the interest may have turned the defender’s head.
Real Madrid, who are lacking central options, have also been linked with Gabriel amid a feeling that he could be available if he was not going to be regular this season. Gabriel signed a long term deal in October 2022 after Arsenal rebuffed interest from Juventus last summer but Mikel Arteta has also been clear that he is always looking to improve his squad.
Following Monday's hard-fought 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, Arteta was asked if his decision to bench Gabriel had anything to do with the transfer speculation surrounding the in-demand defender's future. "Nothing at all," the Gunners boss replied. "It's about the games we were expecting, how I wanted to defend and attack."
Arsenal signed Jurrien Timber this summer and his arrival might have had an impact on Gabriel who is more of a traditional stopper than the ball-playing Holland international. However, Timber’s injury and also the clock running down on the transfer window now appears to have ended any chance of Gabriel leaving this summer.
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Arsenal would have to find an alternative to consider letting Gabriel go - and also a better option to improve the squad - but time is against them even if they decided to take that route.
Gabriel wore the armband after coming on as a substitute for Arsenal on Monday (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Have your say! Should Arsenal consider selling Gabriel? Join the debate in the comments section.
The Saudi transfer window remains open after the Premier League deadline closes on September 1 and Arsenal will be determined now to draw a line to ensure the issue does not flare up again with Al-Ittihad likely to carry on trying.
That explains why Gunners boss Arteta was so clear that Gabriel is going nowhere because he does not want his squad unsettled. Gabriel formed an unbreakable partnership with William Saliba last season but they have started the campaign with the France defender in the middle of a back three and Ben White on the right.
Timber started on the left but is now out injured, Takehiro Tomiyasu is suspended for Saturday’s game with Fulham and that may mean a return for Gabriel, although Arteta’s vision is clear that he wants his defence to play out from the back even more than last term.