Arsenal will consider selling Gabriel if they’re able to sign an adequate replacement with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi a key target.
Gabriel started every Premier League match for Arsenal last campaign as he established a superb partnership with William Saliba.
- Toni Kroos slams Liverpool & Chelsea target Gabri Veiga’s ‘Embarrassing’ decision to join Al Ahli
- Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Thomas Muller picks the GOAT
- Micah Richards hits out at ‘pathetic’ Man Utd star for ‘disturbing his teammates’
- Cristiano Ronaldo involved in half-time spat as Al-Nassr mount Champions League comeback
But the Brazilian has been dropped to the bench for Arsenal’s first two games of the new season with Ben White preferred as Saliba’s partner. Gabriel’s position in Arteta’s team has prompted interest from Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.
Reports last week claimed that the club’s chairman even met with Gabriel to hold negotiations over a possible deal.
Arsenal have been linked with more defensive targets in the final days of the transfer window, particularly after Jurrien Timber’s injury setback.
And the Daily Mail claim the Gunners hold an interest in Guehi. It’s claimed the England defender is ‘admired’, although the report adds a deal would be tough this late in the window.
If Arsenal are able to sign a defender like Guehi then they would ‘consider selling Gabriel’. The North London side would want any replacement to be an improvement on the 25-year-old.
Arteta has raised eyebrows with his team selection at the back to start the season with Thomas Partey being used as a makeshift right-back.
Timber’s ACL injury in the season opener appeared to create a possible opening for Gabriel to return to the starting line-up with White expected to move to a full-back role.
But Arteta chose to bring in Takehiro Tomiyasu for Timber for last week’s game against Crystal Palace. Gabriel may be needed this weekend after Tomiyasu was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the 1-0 victory over Palace.
Arteta has attempted to downplay his decision to bench Gabriel for the two Premier League games, insisting the Brazilian will get his chances this season.
He said: “It’s about the games we were expecting, that I was expecting, and how I wanted to defend and attack and what I believed was the best thing.
“He’s played in both games, he helped us to win both games for different reasons. He was really good today, he absolutely dominated the box when he came on and he’s going to play a lot of games. But that’s the decision sometimes.”
