Arsenal Boss Arteta – We Have to Minimise the Risk With Gabriel Magalhaes

Arsenal Boss Arteta – We Have to Minimise the Risk With Gabriel Magalhaes

For Mikel Arteta, Gabriel Magalhaes’ return to action isn’t solely about ticking a fitness box, it’s about preserving a key pillar in Arsenal’s defence for the long haul.

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Speaking in the warm humidity of Singapore ahead of the Gunners’ next pre-season clash, the Arsenal boss was candid about the decision to leave the Brazilian centre-back out of the 1-0 win over AC Milan.

“Gabby had a little niggle the other day in training,” Arteta revealed, choosing his words with the caution of a manager who knows the tightrope walk of pre-season conditioning. “Because of the fact that he has been out so long as well, we have to manage him.”

The 27-year-old, who missed the closing stretch of the 2024–25 campaign after undergoing surgery for a hamstring issue, has only just re-joined full training. While supporters are eager to see him back commanding the backline, Arteta is clearly prioritising the bigger picture.

“We have been in Spain, a different pitch, different conditions. We go to the UK, different ones, come here, again a lot of changes. We have to minimise the risk with him,” he added, pointing to the shifting environments the squad has been navigating throughout their pre-season journey.

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Arsenal are currently in the thick of their Asia tour, with a public training session scheduled in Singapore on Friday. After that, it’s back into action against Newcastle United on Sunday, followed by a high-profile showdown with arch-rivals Spurs in Hong Kong next Thursday.

For Gabriel, his moment will come, but not until his manager is confident the risks have been whittled down to nearly zero. After all, with a new campaign looming and expectations soaring, Arsenal can ill afford to lose their defensive linchpin again.