A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as David O’Leary says why he is ‘disappointed’ about the Premier League title race and Gabriel Magalhaes opens up on Declan Rice.
Gabriel Magalhaes thinks Declan Rice has helped Arsenal ‘a lot’
Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes admits he ‘really loves’ playing with Declan Rice as he has helped Arsenal ‘a lot’. The Gunners raided West Ham United to sign the 25-year-old last July in a club-record transfer. Rice has since proven to be an instrumental player for Mikel Arteta.
Rice has also enjoyed his best season of Premier League football in front of the net for goals and assists this term. The England international has relished the box-to-box role Arteta gives him at Emirates Stadium to build on his dominance as one of Europe’s top midfield anchors.
What Rice has shown in red-and-white has also left Gabriel in zero doubt about his qualities. The centre-half adores that Rice gives Arsenal something ‘different’ from their other options in Arteta’s engine room. Gabriel is also certain that Rice has moved Arsenal to a higher level.
Gabriel told TNT Sports: “He’s a leader. He’s an extraordinary player. I really love playing with him because he has something different. Since arriving, he’s helped us a lot.”
Read more about what Gabriel has had to say about Rice at Arsenal, here.
Manchester City ‘disappointed’ Arsenal icon David O’Leary for the Premier League title race
David O’Leary has admitted that the Arsenal legend is ‘disappointed’ that Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League at the same time as the Gunners. He wanted to see the Citizens stay in Europe to better Mikel Arteta’s chances to win the Premier League title.
Arsenal hold an advantage over Pep Guardiola’s team but have played more often than the Etihad Stadium natives. The Citizens will also move back above the north London natives if they win their games in hand. Both teams can also focus exclusively on the title race now.
Manchester City and Arsenal only have Premier League fixtures on their schedule after the clubs lost in the quarter-finals of the Champions League to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Guardiola’s side are also in the FA Cup final but that is after the top-flight term has finished.
So, O’Leary admits he is ‘disappointed’ that three-time reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have exited the Champions League. He felt two potential semi-final ties for Guardiola’s team would give Arteta’s squad the advantage as they fight to win the top-flight.
He told talkSPORT (23/04, 09:11): “What I have always felt was if you can finish above Man City and win the league, no disrespect to Liverpool, I think they are the standard-bearers.
“I was disappointed when they went out of the Champions League after we went out. I was hoping they might stay in, there would be two extra games, two midweek games, and make it not easier for us, but give us a better chance because they would be playing more games.”
Read more about what O’Leary had to say about the Premier League title race, here.
Fabio Capello thinks Arsenal have one of ‘the best’ in Bukayo Saka
Former England boss Fabio Capello believes Arsenal have one of ‘the best’ players in Europe through Bukayo Saka. He adores what the 22-year-old gives the Gunners and for his nation. Capello also likes England’s likely team for Euro 2024 with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
But while Saka, Kane and Bellingham are ‘the best’ in their positions among Europeans, the Three Lions will fly to Germany with one potential concern. Capello is not sure that Gareth Southgate will have the defence to win Euro 2024, especially with Jordan Pickford in the net.
“I like England,” Capello said, via quotes by The Sun. “Their midfielders and forwards are the best, Bellingham, Kane [and] Saka. The problem is defending and the keeper. At centre-back they are weak, not at the same level as the rest of the team.”
Read more about what Capello has had to say about Arsenal star Saka, here.