Alexandre Lacazette has claimed that Gabriel Magalhaes has a ‘presence’ about him at Arsenal, as he told the club’s official website.
The French striker named his 24-year-old teammate as someone who could be a ‘future captain’ for Arsenal.
At this moment in time, it’s Lacazette who dons the armband, albeit on a temporary basis following the stripping, and now the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Lacazette is out-of-contract in north London in the summer, so unless he signs on the dotted line, Mikel Arteta will need a new leader once again in a few months time.
The current stand-in explained why he feels Gabriel could be an option and what he needs to improve on in order to help him get better.
“There are some future captains,” Lacazette added.
“Gabriel, big Gabi, has got presence, leadership at the back. I think when he’s going to be more fluent in English, it will help a lot.”
Gabriel is proving to be quite the signing for Arsenal and a player that is building a very good partnership with Ben White at the back.
The last two permanent Arsenal captains – Granit Xhaka and Aubameyang – have ended up being stripped of that role.
So, good luck to the man who takes that role next because it seems to be a poisoned chalice, at this moment in time.
Perhaps giving it to a young gun might do the trick, as Gabriel isn’t a bad shout for someone to lead from the back in the long run.
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