“You need to sit on bench to become better” – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had some BOLD ADVICE for this defender

The defender Arteta mentioned has been key to the Gunners' defensive solidity.

“You need to sit on bench to become better” – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had some BOLD ADVICE for this defender

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had some bold advice for this defender. (Images via Hayters TV, Football London)

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, in a press conference following his team’s 6-0 victory over Lens, boldly exclaimed that the club defender Gabriel Magalhaes needed to spend some time on the bench to improve his form and turn into a better player.

Arsenal are currently enjoying a wonderful season, as they sit on top of the Premier League table and also made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, after defeating Lens 6-0. The Gunners have also performed well defensively, conceding the lowest number of goals in the Premier League till now. In addition to this, the center-back pairing of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba is back and kicking as well.

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While speaking to reporters post-Lens game, Mikel Arteta was questioned about Gabriel’s non-inclusion in playing XI for the first few games of the league. To which the Spaniard replied that the players need to earn their place in the squad by performing diligently.

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Furthermore, he added that several players might compete for a single position in the team, and a player might have to sit on the bench to get an opportunity to understand things and improve his form. 

In football, it's tomorrow. It's about form, it's about how you're playing, how you're behaving, and you have to earn it every single day because somebody else is next to you, and deserves to take your place. Sometimes you just need to sit down on the bench and realize things, and then you can suddenly become a much better player.

Furthermore, Arteta faced questions about Gabriel and Saliba becoming the club’s future center-back pair. He calmly stated that a player’s form determines these decisions. This discussion followed Gabriel’s outstanding UCL performance against Lens, where he deflected inquiries about his future with ease.

Is Gabriel Magalhaes back?

Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes might have regained his lost form and his position in the Arsenal lineup after making a string of impressive performances for both club and country.

Gabriel Magalhaes against Lens in the UCL
Gabriel Magalhaes against Lens in the UCL (via Football London)

Gabriel faced uncertainty at Arsenal this summer as the club signed Jurrien Timber to potentially replace him. Criticized for errors in the 2022-23 season, he stayed resilient. Timber’s injury and Arteta’s strategy failure opened the door for Gabriel’s return.

Since then, Gabriel’s performance has been stellar. He celebrated stopping Lens from scoring, securing a clean sheet for Arsenal. Fans praise his winning mentality, transforming from a potential sale to a key player for the team.

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