Gabriel Magalhaes is an Arsenal player and, as expected, was given the number 6 shirt.

Gabriel Magalhães
Gabriel Magalhães

With offers from multiple clubs on the table, whittled down to just two – Arsenal and Napoli. Or three. It was never quite clear. Manchester United were still in the running, or maybe not.

Now, we all know.

Gabriel Magalhaes is an Arsenal player.

Before he arrived, we looked at what shirt numbers were available for him and there seemed to be only one he would take – the number six.

Gabriel Magalhaes Arsenal shirt number

Gabriel's Arsenal shirt number
Gabriel’s Arsenal shirt number

The 22-year-old wore the number 4 at Lille until August 2020 when the club handed it to a teenager when they left Gabriel out of their squad for a friendly. It’s certainly the number he favours but we already knew it would adorn the back of his centre-back partner, William Saliba.

Gabriel has also worn 14, the number he wears for Brazil’s u20s, but that should hopefully be remaining on the back of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a few more years yet.

He has also spent a season wearing 3, 6 and 21.

At Arsenal, Kieran Tierney obviously has the number 3 shirt while the 21 belongs to Calum Chambers.

The 6, however, was free and felt like it was kept that way specifically for a new centreback.

Gabriel Magalhaes squad number on Arsenal.com
Gabriel Magalhaes squad number on Arsenal.com

Arsenal’s number 6

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal celebrates victory following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on March 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 10: Laurent Koscielny celebrates victory following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on March 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The 6 at Arsenal has been unassigned since Laurent Koscielny’s tetchy departure in 2019 and is a monster of a number at the club.

It has adorned the back of Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Steve Bould, Michael ‘it’s up for grabs’ Thomas, David Rocastle, David O’Leary, Charlie George, Terry Neill, George Armstrong, and many more.

Any defender or midfielder should be proud to not only have this number given to them but to have had it kept open specifically.

Arsenal’s Gabriels

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Gabriel Magalhaes is the third Gabriel Arsenal have signed in their history with all three hailing from Brazil.

The other two are, of course, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Paulista.

Arsenal’s Brazilians

Willian after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Willian after signing for Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Gabriel Magalhaes is the 13th Brazilian Arsenal have signed.

  1. Andre Santos
  2. David Luiz
  3. Denilson
  4. Edu
  5. Gabriel Martinelli
  6. Gabriel Paulista
  7. Gilberto Silva
  8. Juan
  9. Julio Baptista
  10. Pedro Bothelo
  11. Sylvinho
  12. Wellington Silva
  13. Willian