Arsenal has begun discussions to extend the contract of key defender Gabriel Magalhaes, according to football expert Charles Watts. In an exclusive piece for CaughtOffsideโs Daily Briefing, Watts reported that while negotiations are in the preliminary phase, the Gunners are keen to keep Gabriel, who was instrumental in their recent North London Derby win against Tottenham.
Watts pointed out that although Gabriel may not get as much recognition as his defensive partner William Saliba, he is an essential player for Mikel Artetaโs squad. His impressive performance against Spurs included scoring the winning goal with a strong header from a corner.
Beyond his goal, Gabriel made significant defensive contributions, helping Arsenal achieve an outstanding away clean sheet record in 2024. Regarding his performance and the potential contract extension, Watts remarked, โGabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba were outstanding once again. I believe they form the best centre-back partnership in world football.โ
Watts also noted Gabrielโs defensive determination and highlighted that, even though Saliba often garners more attention, Gabriel remains an underrated yet crucial figure in Arsenalโs defense.