Arsenal may have lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but Rio Ferdinand has used the occasion to lavish praise on Gabriel Magalhaes, who he believes has now ironed out the key flaw in his game.
Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal into one of the toughest teams to break down in the Premier League. The Gunners opened the season with back-to-back clean sheets, and even at Anfield it took a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick to breach David Raya’s goal.
Gabriel, alongside William Saliba, has been central to that defensive solidity. Even with Saliba forced off injured against Liverpool, the Brazilian stood tall and continued to show why he’s become such a key figure in Arteta’s setup.
Rio Ferdinand on Gabriel’s growth
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Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents show, the Manchester United legend revealed he has been “enjoying watching” Gabriel in recent months. Ferdinand recalled advising the defender in the past to calm down his emotions and cut out rash decisions in high-pressure moments.
According to Ferdinand, Gabriel didn’t take kindly to the criticism at the time, even firing back in the pundit’s DMs. But the former England centre-back now feels vindicated, as Gabriel has matured, eradicated the costly mistakes and become more composed.
“He’s so aggressive. That’s what I love about him. But he’s cut out those silly, rash mistakes that were holding him back. Experience, time and patience have made him into a top player,” Ferdinand said.
Why Gabriel should not fear Hincapie
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Gabriel’s progress comes at a time when Arsenal are about to add more depth, with Arsenal signing Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen after Jakub Kiwior’s departure to Porto. While the Ecuadorian can cover at centre-back or left-back, Gabriel remains one of the first names on Arteta’s team sheet.
In truth, Hincapie’s arrival will provide cover and rotation, but Gabriel’s place as Arsenal’s defensive leader is not under threat. If anything, having stronger depth only strengthens the Gunners’ chances of challenging again at the very top this season.
Related Items:Latest Gabriel Magalhaes News | Transfer News | Injury News and Update, Piero Hincapie, Rio Ferdinand
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