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Gabriel Magalhaes' Strengths, Weaknesses And What Arsenal Will Get If They Seal £22m Transfer


Few European clubs can rival Lille when it comes to identifying future stars and nurturing their talents.

Eden Hazard and Nicolas Pepe blossomed into elite wingers with Les Dogues while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Divock Origi, Lucas Digne, Dimitri Payet and Idrissa Gueye also enjoyed spells in northern France.

It’s a production line of talent and Gabriel is the latest off the conveyor belt.

The Brazilian is relatively inexperienced - he only has 40 Ligue 1 and six Champions League appearances to his name - yet his performances alongside Jose Fonte last season were composed and commanding.

Gabriel joined Lille in January 2017 from Brazilian second division club Avai and his first 18 months at the club were far from settled. There was an unsuccessful loan spell at Troyes and a six-month switch to Dinamo Zagreb for whom he played just once.

Lille decided to keep the young centre-back at the club for the 2018/19 campaign and it was a decision which paid off, eventually. He played just one minute in Ligue 1 prior to February but an injury to club captain Adama Soumaoro presented a first-team opportunity.

It was one Gabriel took. He played but all two of the remaining Ligue 1 matches last season and has kept his place this term. Such has been his form, Lille allowed Soumaoro to leave on loan for Genoa in January.

“It took me a while to get used to things in Lille, it was very difficult,” the defender admitted earlier this year. “Today I am happy. The coach shows me that I am important for the team, I have responsibilities. Lille is my home now.”

Perhaps not for too much longer, however. Arsenal have been on the search for a left-footed centre-back for some time, with Pablo Mari already signed up.

Gabriel ticks that box yet also has the skill set required to thrive in the Premier League. The Brazilian isn’t blisteringly quick but he controls space well and that enables him to handle even the most nimble of wingers.

He doesn’t dive into challenges, either. Instead Gabriel waits for the right moment to claim the ball and that is why his 11.98 ball recoveries per 90 is only bettered by 12 other Ligue 1 defenders. And at 6ft 3ins, he isn’t easily beaten in the air, evidenced by the fact he wins 64 percent of his aerial duels.

That’s all well and good but a centre-back in Mikel Arteta's side must be comfortable on the ball.

Again Gabriel fits the bill. He is completing an average of 49.23 passes per 90 in Ligue 1 this season and these are not simply safe passes as 42.8 percent go forward.

Gabriel’s long game is also a big weapon. He can hit crossfield balls or passes over a defence with unerring accuracy, which is why he has completed 46.7 percent of long passes this term. In this sense he is a deep-lying playmaker.

Add in his ability to effortlessly play as part of a back three or back four and Gabriel seems an ideal signing for Arsenal at £22million.

He could just be a bargain, one nobody saw coming.

 

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