Arteta hails ‘world class’ Arsenal star: ‘He sets the tone for everyone else’ | OneFootball

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hailed Gabriel Magalhães as one of the best central defenders in world football, praising the Brazilian’s all-round qualities and his growing influence on and off the pitch.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s latest London derby against Crystal Palace, which Gabriel could miss through injury, Arteta reflected on Gabriel’s transformation since arriving at the club in 2020, describing him as a player who “dominates both boxes” and who has become a leader at the heart of the Gunners’ back line.

“If you ask me what I want from my centre-back, I want somebody who dominates both boxes and masters that,” said Arteta. “Gabriel can do that. He defends like a world-class defender, and he attacks like a world-class attacker. When you look at his presence, the way he leads the team, the way he talks to people, his body language, there’s a lot to like. It’s no coincidence that he has evolved into one of the best centre-backs in the world.”

Arteta said Gabriel’s mentality and belief have been just as crucial to his rise as his physical attributes and technical ability. The 26-year-old has become a key figure in both phases of play, not just as a commanding defender but also as a major threat from set pieces.

“His belief is tremendous,” Arteta added. “I can tell him to go and run to the first post, and he does it with conviction, energy and attitude. The team’s belief in those moments is really high, and Gabriel is at the heart of that. He gives everything for the team, and that sets the tone for everyone else.”

The Arsenal boss also underlined the importance of defending as a foundation for success, echoing Sir Alex Fergsuons’s old managerial maxim that ‘attackers win games, but defenders win titles.’

“Defending isn’t just about avoiding goals,” Arteta said. “We defend to attack better. The purpose of our defending is to create better conditions to go forward and to control games. That’s the mindset we want: to defend with intention and to dominate in the areas that matter most.”

Arteta believes Gabriel embodies that philosophy perfectly, combining aggression and intelligence with a growing composure that has seen him develop into one of the Premier League’s most complete defenders.

“He’s grown so much,” Arteta said. “He’s more mature now, more vocal, more consistent. And when you see how important top centre-backs are, you realise why they’re so valuable. There are already a few who’ve gone for huge fees, that tells you how crucial players like Gabriel are to what a team can achieve.”