TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhães has finally taken his advice on board — years after the defender confronted him in the DMs over criticism.
Ferdinand recalled being vocal about Gabriel’s tendency to make rash decisions in big moments, particularly giving away penalties and showing lapses in composure. The Arsenal man wasn’t impressed at the time, reaching out privately to question the former Manchester United captain’s remarks.
Speaking after Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool at the weekend, Ferdinand admitted Gabriel has matured and removed the flaws that once held him back:
“You know who I’ve really been enjoying watching lately? Gabriel. He’s so aggressive, so commanding. I was watching him against Liverpool and I thought back to when he came at me in my DMs. Back then, I’d said he needed to cut out the rash decisions in big moments if he wanted to become a top defender. He didn’t take it well and told me it wasn’t fair. But now, you can see he’s eliminated those silly mistakes from his game. That was the only weakness he had, and he’s ironed it out. Experience, patience, and time have paid off.”
Gabriel’s Consistency Shines Through
The Brazilian international has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s backline for several seasons. Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, the Gunners have conceded just 64 goals — the lowest tally of any Premier League side in that period. Gabriel’s aggressive defending, improved composure, and leadership at the back have been central to that record.
Whether Ferdinand’s earlier comments truly inspired his development is something only Gabriel could confirm, but the results on the pitch speak for themselves.
Injury Worry for Saliba
While Gabriel is thriving, Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of his defensive partner William Saliba. The Frenchman picked up an ankle problem in the warm-up before the defeat to Liverpool and, despite attempting to play through it, was visibly not at full fitness.
Saliba has since withdrawn from international duty, with Mikel Arteta and fans alike hoping he recovers in time for Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest.
