Arsenal have been head and shoulders above the rest this season, but Mikel Arteta knows the season is still young and there are many grueling months ahead before the Gunners end their 20-year wait for the Premier League title.
Arsenal, who have finished runners-up for the third year in a row, have worked on improving the dynamics and strengthening the whole park, with players such as Martin Zvimendi, Victor Gökeres and Ebelesi Eze adding flavor to an already refined and complete squad.
The only thing missing is silverware. And while the Emirates side have all the tools to complete this term, they will need a player of Gabriel Magalhães’s personality and qualities to avoid long-term injury during his extended absence on international duty with Brazil.
Latest information on Gabriel’s muscle injury
Gabriel has played in every Premier League game for Arsenal this season, but with North London’s game against Tottenham Hotspur just around the corner, he picked up a muscular injury on international duty that could hinder his ability to play.
During Brazil’s recent win over Senegal, Gabriel pulled up mid-sprint. The Athletic’s David Ornstein subsequently revealed that there were concerns that he could be sidelined for more than a month and could be sidelined until the new year.
You can’t underestimate how essential Gabriel has become. According to FBref, the £150,000-a-week talent ranks in the top 5% of his position for goal involvement and in the top 15% per 90% for shot creation actions. That aside, he has an incredible record, winning 78% of his games on the ground and keeping a clean sheet in seven games.
The action that creates the shot is part of the play that leads to the shot. This includes the moment a pass, take-on, or foul is drawn.
In Gabriel and William Saliba, Arsenal have two defenders looking to top the Premier League’s great centre-back partnerships, and if Arteta can claim that elusive trophy at the end of the season, he and his wider squad will benefit from this calm and perfectly organized pairing at the back.
The likes of Pierro Hincapie and Cristian Mosquera are capable replacements, but this could be a huge blow and leaves North London thinking about the 27-year-old’s long-term successor.
There’s one Hail End star who might have what it takes to complete that step up in the future.
A Hail Ender that could replace Gabriel.
Under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal are once again in a position to be feared. This is a team that can take on and overcome any opponent in the world, as evidenced by their stunning two-legged victory over Real Madrid last season.
But this also needs to be a long-lasting project, and with talismanic Bukayo Saka and exciting prospects such as Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dauman in the first-team squad, it’s clear the focus is on this.
And on the other side of the field, Callan Hamill could be Gabriel’s successor when the time comes. The 16-year-old has made a huge impression at Hale End since joining from Scottish side St Johnstone this summer.
The Scotland U19 international quickly established himself as captain of Arsenal’s U18 team, making 11 appearances and scoring one goal.
Such impressive performances even earned Hamill a series of appearances in the Under-21 team, and during his only effort in Premier League 2, Hamill kept a clean sheet throughout a 90-minute match.
Analyst Ben Mattinson said the teenager has “all the tools to become a quality back-line leader for club and country”, and although he is not there yet, Arteta’s decision to bring the youngster into first-team training and bring him to the front suggests it is only a matter of time before the star emulates the well-known players before him and cements his place under Arteta’s wing.
Given his leadership skills, strong reading of the game and dynamism, Hamill may have what it takes to be Gabriel’s successor when the fateful day arrives for the Brazilian to leave.
New Saka: Arsenal target ‘one of the best wingers in the world’ for £88m
The game-changing winger could be a Saka-like addition to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad.
