Gabriel Magalhaes was filmed celebrating Arsenal’s goals against Real Madrid from the stands, and he joked to Declan Rice after the game that he wants the midfielder’s right foot.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has been one of the club’s players of the season so far, and there’s no doubt he would have been in the starting lineup on Tuesday night if not for injury.
It was largely thanks to Gabriel and William Saliba’s defensive partnership that Arsenal have done so well in the Champions League already.
The team have conceded just three goals in the six games both players started together, and two of those came from penalties given away by Arsenal’s midfielders.
With the Brazilian defender having to undergo surgery on his hamstring, he’s out of action for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign. Even so, he turned up to the Emirates Stadium in midweek to watch from the stands.
Gabriel seemed particularly impressed by one of Declan Rice’s free-kick goals, sporting a look of shock in a clip shared online after the ball flew in.
The defender was also filmed enjoying Arsenal’s third goal, though he did have to warn a couple of jubilant supporters not to disturb his injured leg!
After the game, Gabriel went down to the dressing room and asked Rice if he could borrow his foot.
As mentioned, there’s no expectation that Gabriel will play any further part for Arsenal on the pitch this season. But the centre-back remains a big personality around the squad away from the pitch, and hopefully he’ll have something to celebrate with the team in May.