Gabriel Magalhaes reacts to William Saliba developments away from Arsenal

03/25/2025 03:30 AM

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have established themselves as one of the world’s top centre-back partnerships at Arsenal, and the pair are keeping an eye on each other on international duty.

Mikel Arteta’s side going within a few points of the Premier League title in back-to-back seasons was largely built-upon their rock-solid defensive line, and the keystone of that has been Gabriel and Saliba.

Even this term, in which Arsenal have fallen off the pace and sit 12 points behind Liverpool, Saliba and Gabriel have helped the Gunners conceded just 24 goals, three less than the Premier League leaders.

The duo’s form side-by-side at the Emirates has also helped both become regulars for their nations too, with Gabriel and Saliba featuring for Brazil and France respectively across the international break.

While Gabriel and Brazil are still midway through their South America-wide qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup, the stakes in this month’s matches have been much higher for Saliba’s France side.

Gabriel responds to William Saliba’s France message

Though Gabriel and Brazil have already beaten Colombia in this month’s international break and face their arch-rivals Argentina on Tuesday, France have already been put through the wringer by Croatia.

Facing their 2018 World Cup Final opponents in a two-legged UEFA Nations League quarter-final, Saliba and his team-mates were all at sea in the first, losing 2-0 in Split and staring down the barrel of defeat.

France, however, rallied in Sunday’s second leg in Saint-Denis, with Saliba partnering Dayot Upamecano to keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win, before Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties to reach the semi-finals.

In the aftermath (24 March), Saliba took to his Instagram page, saying: “All together!! Congratulations to all and thank you for this atmosphere”, to which Gabriel reacted with a heart emoji comment.

Gabriel–Saliba partnership the cornerstone for Arsenal success

Arsenal may have fallen a seemingly unassailable distance behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, but that’s been much less to do with their defence than their continued profligacy up front.

Arteta’s desire, and need, to sign a free-scoring striker is long overdue in North London, and while the Spaniard has plenty of top-class options in defence, the Gabriel-Saliba axis must remain unaltered.

Transfer speculation surrounding Gabriel has reared its head of late and a bid from Al-Nassr could give Arsenal the windfall to fund the transfers they need, but he is one of two players who are unseallable.

The other, of course, is Saliba, and the longer the duo remain paired at the back, the better chance Arsenal have to bring back the glory days of old.

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