Gabriel contract: How "snowball effect" will help Arsenal, Andrea Berta tie down second key player

Gabriel Magalhaes signing a new long-term Arsenal contract could create a "snowball effect" for other renewals in North London, expert Charles Watts believes.

The Gunners confirmed that their integral Brazilian centre-back had penned a long-term extension on Friday morning, one that is expected to last until the end of the 2028-29 season.

Gabriel's renewal is a significant victory for new sporting director Andrea Berta in particular, as the Italian successfully built a rapport with his entourage and negotiated a renewal months after arriving.

While his predecessor Edu forged strong relationships with all players and agents, Berta has had to start with a clean slate, and Watts emphasised his role in getting Gabriel tied down for another four years.

Speaking to Sports Mole before Gabriel's renewal was announced, Watts said: "It's a massive boost, absolutely huge. A lot of the talk is about transfers, but the renewals are just as important because of who we need to get renewed.

"You're not talking about any old players, you're talking about the real core group in Gabriel, Saliba, Saka, two real talented youngsters in Myles and Ethan.

'Big statement' for Arsenal to secure Gabriel renewal

"It's a really important summer for renewals and to start it off with Gabriel, who in my view was Arsenal's Player of the Season, it's a huge boost. These talks have been going on for quite a long time now, but for Andrea Berta to come in and get them over the line pretty quickly - he's had to build these relationships.

"It's not like Edu who had relationships with the player, agents, families. Berta's come in, had to pick up the pieces and build those relationships, which are really important. For him to get this one over the line will be a big boost to him.

"It'll be a big statement for Arsenal, a big statement for Andrea Berta as well. To see such an important player sign early on, the snowball effect it could create could be really, really important. Massive news."

While Berta and Arteta can celebrate keeping Gabriel at the club, the former Atletico Madrid chief must now turn his attention to a spate of other renewals.

William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Leandro Trossard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli's situations all need addressing; Saka, Saliba and Martinelli's terms all run out in 2027.

Saliba was believed to have been courted by Real Madrid earlier this summer, but Los Blancos quickly realised that a deal was not feasible and turned their attention to Dean Huijsen instead.

How Gabriel's new contract could hand Arsenal Saliba boost

However, Real Madrid are not expected to lose sight of the Frenchman, although Watts is optimistic that seeing Gabriel put pen to paper will significantly strengthen Arsenal's chances of keeping his centre-back partner.

Asked about the worry of the core Arsenal crop eventually seeking out moves elsewhere in search of trophies, Watts added: "That was a fear, wasn't it? The longer it goes on, you start to worry. Is this group going to break up?

"We've seen it before, Tottenham are an example under [Mauricio] Pochettino - they got up to second, couldn't quite get over the line. The squad started to dismantle and you had to start all over again. You don't want to see that happening with Arsenal.

"They've worked so hard to get into the position they are. You don't want to lose those big players. A, because it sends out a bad message and others can start to follow suit, and then it's more difficult to bring in top players because they're seeing big players leaving.

"It's a really important statement, and for someone like William Saliba as well. To see his mate, his mentor almost; when he talks about Gabriel, you can feel the respect coming out, as a friend but as a player as well. To see Gabriel sign that contract, you've got to think that will help with Saliba at such an important time of his renewal."

Gabriel has produced a terrific 20 goals and five assists in 210 games for the Gunners since joining from Lille in 2020, although he has only won one Community Shield during his time at the club so far.

Written by
Ben Knapton