Mikel Arteta has reacted to Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes being left out of the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup.
Brazil announced their squad for the 2022 World Cup earlier this week, but Gabriel did not the make cut. That’s despite the Brazilian defender being impressive for Arsenal in the 22/23 season.
Gabriel has been a regular fixture in the Arsenal defender this season and has featured in 18 games for the Gunners. In the 22/23 season, he has made 13 appearances in the Premier League, where Arsenal sits atop of the points table.
Arsenal have conceded just 11 goals in the Premier League so far this season, and Gabriel’s centre-back partnership with William Saliba has been one of the key reasons for that.
Mikel Arteta reacts to Gabriel Magalhaes’s omission from Brazil World Cup squad
However, Gabriel was not named in the Brazil squad for the World Cup. Reacting to Gabriel not making the cut, Arteta admitted it is a disappointment for the Arsenal defender.
However, he has urged Gabriel to use the omission from the Brazil squad for the World Cup as a motivation to improve and be ready for the next tournament.
“For Gabi, it’s a disappointment, but when you look at the squad that they have and the experience they have in that position, you have to understand that and it’s another challenge for him,” Arteta said.
“He needs to be ready for the next one, he needs to improve and carry on with the good things that he’s been doing.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel’s Arsenal teammates and compatriots Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli were both named in the squad for the World Cup.
Both Jesus and Martinelli has been impressive for Arsenal, who have had a great run so far in the 22/23 season.
Brazil are placed in Group G at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Alongside them in Group G are Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon. They will kick off their 2022 World Cup campaign by taking on Serbia in their first match of the group stage. That match kicks off at 12:30 am Indian Standard Time, on November 25th.
Brazil will then face Switzerland in their second match of the group stage. That match kicks off at 9:30 pm Indian Standard Time, on November 28th.
They will then conclude their group-stage matches by squaring off with Cameroon. The match between Brazil and Cameroon kicks off at 12:30 am Indian Standard Time, on December 3rd.
