As a baseball-bat wielding robber discovered 5 years in the past, Gabriel Magalhaes doesn’t fiddle.
An important piece of Mikel Arteta’s jigsaw, the Brazilian has risen to grow to be one of many Premier League’s most-feared defenders in an incombustible pairing with Arsenal team-mate William Saliba.
A menace on set-pieces — he has three objectives and 4 assists within the league this season — and a phenom within the backline, Gabriel is an imposing determine up shut.
Sat down within the solar outdoors at Arsenal’s London Colney coaching base forward of their Carabao Cup last towards Manchester Metropolis, he’s in a reflective temper.
As seen throughout this marketing campaign, Gabriel willingly places his physique on the road. Gladly, so. Whether or not or not it’s his face, chest and even his neck — mirrored in a single block towards Bayer Leverkusen lately — he’ll defend his ‘home’ by any means mandatory.
‘I can’t breathe after this (block vs Leverkusen)!’ he exclaims. ‘Like I mentioned, I attempted to do my finest and I gave every thing for this badge. So my team-mates can see as effectively. In case you see the block of (Riccardo) Calafiori towards Everton, it was unbelievable. We attempt to do our greatest each time.’
Gabriel is Arsenal’s UFC fighter wannabe prepared for one more titanic scrap at Wembley
The Gunners defender has led from the entrance at each ends for Mikel Arteta’s facet
His trademark penchant for duels and aggression are a marker of the participant he’s. Unrelenting and on the fore, it typifies the 28-year-old’s sport. These tendencies have all the time been there.
‘After I was youthful, I used to be very aggressive,’ he says.
‘After I performed with my buddies, they’d say, “Hey, relax, you are an expert”.’
‘Nevertheless it’s identical to I do daily. We play soccer, I am going to you, it is simply in my thoughts. I attempt to defend my home.
‘I’ve watched loads of defenders earlier than. I feel stunning soccer will not be solely a gorgeous cross, but in addition once you defend, the way in which you defend. Like I mentioned, I attempt to convey power to everybody and assist my team-mates.’
Those that have impressed him share such an strategy.
‘(Paolo) Maldini, (Fabio) Cannavaro, Lucio and, after all, you’ve Thiago Silva and Marquinhos,’ he says. ‘I feel I be taught loads once I watch gamers like that.’
One tantalising match-up on Sunday is with Erling Haaland — a collision between the sport’s most ruthless finisher and one of many league’s most uncompromising defenders.
Their battle might determine not simply the match, however the first main trophy of the season which Arsenal so desperately crave after a six-year await silverware; their final scalp dates again to the 2020 FA Cup conquer Chelsea.
‘To be sincere, I get pleasure from each sport, each striker,’ he says. ‘It’s my job, so I prefer to battle. However he (Haaland) is a prime participant and, after all, I feel he likes to play towards me as effectively.
‘I feel it’s enjoyable. We get pleasure from it.’
Is he the hardest striker within the Premier League to play towards?
‘Yeah, after all,’ he instantly replies.
There have been lighter moments, too. When advised that team-mates had joked he may need been a UFC fighter, or maybe a safety guard, he smiled.
‘They know me,’ he says. ‘We practice daily collectively.’
A pause.
‘I feel it’s good to know. Perhaps after soccer I generally is a safety guard!’
It’s simple to border gamers like Gabriel purely via the lens of aggression. However right here was the counterbalance of self-awareness and humour.
Now he is prepared for one more battle with Erling Haaland, this time within the Carabao Cup last
But beneath the humour sits one thing extra deeper. It is a participant who remembers.
His social media posts of copying Amadou Onana’s three factors within the pocket celebration, or mocking his Brazilian compatriot Richarlison by tagging him right into a publish holding a 4 of hearts card — referencing Arsenal’s 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham in February — have been deliberate.
‘Yeah, I keep in mind, that is why,’ he says. ‘No, I do not write (them down), however that is why the soccer is gorgeous. As a result of they’ll do what we are able to do as effectively.
‘Like Richarlison, he is my good friend. Once we misplaced towards them in pre-season, they posted an image. And now we see it within the Premier League.
‘So it is in my thoughts, I do not neglect. Nevertheless it’s nothing private.
‘In opposition to Spurs, it needs to be rapidly!’
Whether or not he has a social media publish prepared for Sunday stays to be seen.
But, when Haaland comes calling at Wembley, Gabriel shall be able to defend his home as soon as extra — no matter it takes.
