Reason why Gabriel Magalhaes was dropped by Mikel Arteta against Liverpool
Arsenal news: Gabriel Magalhaes was dropped by Mikel Arteta against Liverpool (Image: GETTY)
“He’s played a few games already with us. David [Luiz] has huge experience and has played here many, many times as well and he gives us something different.”
Luiz slotted into a back three formation against Liverpool, with Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney either side of him and Gabriel named among the substitutes.
Gabriel joined Arsenal from Lille at the beginning of September for an initial fee of £22million.
Arsenal’s record signing Nicolas Pepe was also named on the bench for a third successive Premier League match.
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Pepe played alongside Gabriel at Lille and Arteta hopes the pair can help each other adapt to English football.
Arteta said: “I think it’s always nice for them to have some compatriots next to them, it obviously makes things a lot easier in the first few months when they cannot speak the language.
“I think for both of them they know each other and they’ve spent some time together now. I think it’s a positive thing.”
Arteta believes Pepe has improved a lot since his first campaign in the Premier League last term.
“I think he’s come a long way,” he added.
