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Gabriel and Erling Haaland are set to go to battle as Arsenal take on Manchester City in the League Cup final
Gabriel Magalhaes says he must “stay humble” amid talk of personal glory in a season of potential multiple major successes for Arsenal ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Sitting down with the Gunners stalwart, despite his relaxed persona, it was unsurprising just how alert and aware the 28-year-old was throughout the conversation. The Brazilian even detected a Mancunian accent of one of the reporters in the group, saying with a glare that became a wide smile: “You’re from Manchester? What are you doing here?... I am joking.”
Many a centre-forward has shuddered in the face of one half of the Gunners’ imposing centre-back pairing. Gabriel and William Saliba have helped give Arsenal a foundation that has established itself as one of Europe’s most impressive sides.
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Once known for a free-flowing, almost Barcelona-adjacent passing style of attacking football, in order to reclaim their place among the elite, defending has come to the forefront.
“I think beautiful football is not only a beautiful pass,” Gabriel said. “But also when you defend, the way you defend. I try to bring energy to everyone and help my teammates.”
Energy is certainly an attribute that Gabriel embodies, almost to the point of bursting at the seams at times. He can often be seen turning to the crowd, wildly whipping up the noise, and for the final, given the choice of bringing the temperature down for calmness’ sake, or continuing in the same vein, there was only ever one answer
“I think it needs to be all the time,” he said with assertion. “We need to push our fans to be behind us. In a game like that, they can help us a lot.”
This fire has lived within Gabriel since childhood. He expressed that there was always a passion to lead, to inspire and to defend his house.
“Yes, I was,” he said. “When I was younger, I was very aggressive. When I played with my friends, they would say, ‘Hey, calm down, you're a professional.’
“But it's just like I do every day. We play football, I go to you, it's just in my mind, I try to defend my house.”
Trying to break into Gabriel and Arsenal’s house will again be who he believes is the toughest striker in the Premier League, Erling Haaland.
Yet despite some of the fractious moments between the two, Gabriel believes that the Norwegian goal-getter equally enjoys their meetings.
“To be honest, I enjoy every game, every striker,” Gabriel said. “It is my job, so I like to battle. But he is a top player and, of course, I think he likes to play against me as well.”
With Arsenal unbeaten against City in their last six meetings, Gabriel has seen his side begin to turn the tide of this rivalry in their favour.
As a result, he has become considered one of the best in the world, but despite discussions of Player of the Year awards, it seems the infamous words of Haaland himself have indeed resonated and grounded Gabriel.
“To be honest, I don't listen too much to things like this,” he said. “I need to stay humble, and I just need to keep going, keep doing what I'm doing. And of course, I think this season is my best season in Arsenal. I think I just need to stay calm and let's see what happens in the end.”
English (US) ·