2 days ago
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Mikel Arteta is set to be without Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba for a little longer, but Arsenal are in safe hands
Gabriel Magalhaes showed his true colours following Arsenal's 2-0 victory against Brentford. The 27-year-old defender, who's currently nursing an injury, was eager to make an appearance following their win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Gunners restored their cushion at the top of the Premier League, clinching three crucial points in the title race. Following the full-time whistle, Gabriel and William Saliba walked onto the pitch to congratulate their teammates.
The duo eventually bumped into Piero Hincapie, and they enjoyed a lovely moment with the Arsenal defender. Saliba shook his hand and gave him a couple of pats on the back before Gabriel shared a joke.
The Brazil international erupted into laughter as soon as he approached Hincapie, playfully grabbing his arm and lunging in to scratch his chin. After sharing a few words, Gabriel also shook hands with Mikel Merino.
While the Brazilian is set to be out until after Christmas, having suffered a thigh injury during the November international break, he clearly remains close to the first-team squad. Gabriel may not be able to help his teammates on the pitch, but he seems to be doing everything he can to support them off it.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the clash against Brentford, Arteta provided an update on the centre-half. The Arsenal boss said: "Big Gabi. Gabi’s doing very well, but that’s weeks as well."
Hincapie, whom Arsenal signed from Bayer Leverkusen on loan in the summer, which includes a £45million option-to-buy, has shown great promise in the absence of Gabriel. At the end of last month, Arteta explained why the Ecuador international has been given the nod at left centre-half.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Arsenal boss said: "We believe what we want to do is the best partnership. We have the absence of Gabi for the next few weeks, and we need the stability we have in the past.
"He’s won the Premier League already in Germany, and for his age, already he has a lot of football in the legs."
Hincapie has featured eight times across all competitions this season, helping Arsenal climb to the top of the Premier League table and the UEFA Champions League 'league phase'. When he swapped the Bay Arena for the Emirates Stadium in the summer, the 23-year-old outlined his ambition to leave his mark.
Speaking to club media, Hincapie said: "It only took one conversation to make me feel sure about the decision that I was taking. I'm over the moon. I want to gel as best as I can with my new teammates and have a good season.
"I always want to win trophies for this club, to make a name for myself, and to leave a mark. I want to get off to a good start quickly and that's the most important thing."
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