Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes joins Arsenal from Lille

Gabriel Magalhaes has joined Arsenal from Lille in a 26M Euros deal. The left-back joins the Gunners having played 34 games in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side last season, helping the team to a fourth-place finish.

Gabriel moved to Europe from Brazilian side Avai in 2017 and now joins the Emirates Stadium side on a long term.

According to Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Gabriel has the quality to improve the Arsenal defense having proved himself with Lille.

“We welcome Gabriel to Arsenal. He has many qualities which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team. He has proved with Lille he is a defender with many outstanding attributes and we are looking forward to watching him grow as an Arsenal player.” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said on BBC

Meanwhile, Midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has joined Roma on a permanent basis having had a meaningful impact with the club last season in the Seria A with 9 goals in 27 games.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal from Manchester United in a swap deal that involved Alexis Sanchez in January 2018 although the Chilean forward is now with Inter Milan where he was instrumental in the team’s run to the final of the UEFA Europa League.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has stated that skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been convinced to stay at the club after a long period of uncertainty over his future with the club.

The Gabonese striker scored in the side’s Community shield 1-1 draw against Liverpool although Gunners came out with a penalty shootout victory.

Aubameyang has 70 goals in 109 games for the Gunners since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 in a club-record deal. Last season he shared the English Premier League Golden boot having scored 22 goals.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu