As Mikel Arteta’s first significant investment in regards to a transfer fee, Gabriel’s arrival was the best indication of what the plan was for the club moving forward under the Spaniard. An emphasis on budding young players who would learn the Arsenal way through the new head coach, now manager’s, methods.
"I'm very happy to sign this new contract with Arsenal, because it's such a big club," he said. "It’s my dream and today is the best day of my life. I’m so happy to extend my contract here.
"Every game the supporters are pushing the team in the stadium. It’s why I’m so happy to stay here. Arsenal is my home.
"In the future, I want to win games for Arsenal, I want to win trophies with Arsenal and stay here for a long time because it’s my home."
He has seemingly found the perfect partner alongside him in William Saliba. The fast Frenchman offers all the strengths to Gabriel’s vices whilst he has been tasked recently with occupying a far larger area as traditional left-back Kieran Tierney was swapped out for Oleksandr Zinchenko.
If you were to ask me now if I would swap any of the aforementioned quartet for our Brazilian, the answer would be quick and short, "No!" Now 26 though, Gabriel joins the cast of over-25s in the Arsenal starting eleven.
In fact, as a club known for having one of the youngest groups, plenty of the starters are now either 25 or over. David Raya (28) Ben White (26) Gabriel (26) Zinchenko (27) Martin Odegaard (25) and Gabriel Jesus (26). Even Declan Rice and Kai Havertz will turn 25 before the next season begins.
The profile of the group is changing and Gabriel represents a cornerstone of the journey that it has been on. As Arsenal push to try and win a Premier League title this season, perhaps no one in this squad knows the ups and downs better than the former Lille centre-half.
Arsenal are lucky to have him and have done exceptionally well to identify him, sign him and secure his future. It will most certainly be a very bright one.
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