‘If Arsenal let him go’: Merson sends transfer warning to Arteta about £23m player

Paul Merson has written in The Daily Star that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will not sell Gabriel to Juventus in the summer transfer window.

The Sky Sports pundit has pointed out that Gabriel plays regularly for Arsenal, so there is no reason for the Brazilian defender to leave the Gunners.

The former Arsenal star has warned the Gunners that if they do sell the £23 million (BBC Sport) defender, then they will go backwards.

Tuttosport reported in May that Juventus are interested in signing Gabriel from Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

Speculation this month suggested that Juventus remain keen on the defender

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Paul Merson on Arsenal defender Gabriel

Merson said about Gabriel in The Daily Star: “Arsenal fans don’t need to worry about Gabriel even though Juventus showed interest in him this summer. I think he will stay at the club. I mean he plays every week. It’s not like he’s not playing. I don’t think he’d leave to join Juventus.

“Him and Ben White look very very solid together and Mikel Arteta clearly rates him very highly. He’s been their first choice for a while now. Juventus are not the Juventus of old either, are they? Years ago, if a team like them came running, you’d go.

“They were up there with Real Madrid and Barcelona. I don’t really think that’s the case at Juventus anymore. Even Mathijs De Ligt is leaving them. I’d be shocked if Gabriel left. I don’t think Arsenal fans should worry that his head will get turned.

“I can see why Juventus want him. He’s a good player. I thought he had a good season last season. But it would be one step forwards and two steps back if Arsenal let him go. I can’t see it happening. They have always had trouble finding top quality defenders. They’ve found one in Gabriel. Don’t lose him now.”

Gunners stay

In our view, Arsenal are simply not going to sell Gabriel to Juventus or any other club in the summer transfer window.

No way.

Absolutely no way.

Now, of course, we know that every player has his price, but we do not think that Juventus are going to offer anywhere near enough to tempt Arsenal into sell the 24-year-old Brazilian.

Gabriel is a big reason why Arsenal almost finished in the Premier League top four last season, and the Brazilian centre-back will play a huge role in the Gunners’ quest to end up in the UEFA Champions League places.

Why would Arsenal jeopardise that chance by selling Gabriel now, especially with the new season to start soon?
The post ‘If Arsenal let him go’: Merson sends transfer warning to Arteta about £23m player appeared first on Ladunblog.