Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has spoken candidly about the club’s recent struggles to secure silverware, saying “a couple of titles slipped through our fingers” in recent years. The Gunners have finished runners-up in the Premier League for the past three seasons and narrowly missed out on Champions League and Carabao Cup glory last term.
Despite manager Mikel Arteta’s transformative influence since taking over nearly six years ago, the team’s last major trophy remains the FA Cup triumph in 2020—his first season in charge. Gabriel Magalhaes, who joined the club the same year, said the team has worked hard under Arteta but were occasionally undone by bad luck and untimely injuries.
“I don’t think we can give excuses,” the 27-year-old Brazilian told opitanglobamedia football. “We did everything we could in the last three years. I feel like we had a little bit of bad luck sometimes, but we all believe that we can win big titles. I think this year will be different.”
Avoiding Injury Woes and Building Depth
One of the major factors that derailed Arsenal’s title pursuits last season was the toll of injuries to key players. Forward Bukayo Saka, playmaker Martin Ødegaard, winger Gabriel Martinelli, and summer signing Kai Havertz all missed significant portions of the campaign. Star striker Gabriel Jesus was also sidelined for much of the season with a serious ACL injury.
In their absence, midfielder Mikel Merino was deployed as a makeshift striker, a move that worked reasonably well—he notched seven Premier League goals and scored a memorable Champions League winner against Real Madrid. Yet for a team with title ambitions, such improvisation underscored the urgent need for greater squad depth and durability.
There were, however, silver linings. Promising academy talents Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri seized their chances and broke into the first team. Lewis-Skelly has since earned an England debut and signed a long-term contract, while Nwaneri is close to doing the same after scoring nine goals in 37 matches.
Transfer Market Power Moves: Building for Glory
Determined to strengthen the squad, Arsenal have been proactive in the summer transfer window. The club has added winger Noni Madueke, midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. They are also pursuing striker Viktor Gyökeres and young defender Cristhian Mosquera.
Zubimendi, a highly rated defensive midfielder, was a Euro 2024 standout and a key target for several top clubs, including Liverpool. Alongside Nørgaard, he is expected to fill the void left by Jorginho and Thomas Partey’s departures. Madueke brings pace and versatility to support or compete with Saka and Martinelli.
“I think the players that came will help us out a lot,” Gabriel Magalhaes said. “We are strong and we are getting stronger with these new players… To be in the dispute for titles, you have to have the best players.”
The arrival of Gyökeres—who scored an astonishing 54 goals in 52 appearances for Sporting last season—could be a game-changer. Gabriel, who mimicked the Swedish striker’s celebration after a goal against Sporting, acknowledged Gyökeres’ talent but remained coy on the transfer: “He is a great player… but he is a Sporting player, not an Arsenal player.”
A Renewed Hunger for Silverware
Gabriel Magalhaes, who missed the final weeks of last season due to a hamstring injury and underwent surgery, is targeting full fitness ahead of Arsenal’s opener against Manchester United on August 17. Having signed a contract extension that runs until 2029, the centre-back dismissed speculation about a move to Saudi Arabia, declaring his commitment to Arsenal’s project.
“I’ve been at the club for five years now and I’ve seen how much the club has grown,” he said. “I am here to win big titles and I do believe that this season will be different.”
The team is now in Asia for their pre-season tour, with matches scheduled against AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore later this month. Morale in the camp is high, with players and staff united in the belief that they are ready to take the final step.
The Season Ahead: Time to Deliver says Gabriel Magalhaes
As Arsenal approach the new season, there is a growing sense that the time for learning and building is over. The Gunners have invested heavily, developed top-tier talent, and retained key players like Gabriel Magalhaes to establish continuity.
While Gabriel Magalhaes’s rallying cry signals optimism, it also sets the tone for what could be a defining campaign under Mikel Arteta. Arsenal fans have endured years of “almosts”—now, they want delivery. The foundation is there, the hunger is clear, and the expectations have never been higher.
“We almost won,” Gabriel Magalhaes concluded. “But I think this year, things will be different. I have a lot of faith in that.”
