‘Huge’, ‘big statement’: Paul Merson raves about Arsenal amid links with £27m ‘machine’

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes the Gunners would be making a “big statement” if reported target Gabriel Magalhaes arrives at the Emirates Stadium.

The 22-year-old Lille defender has been heavily linked with Mikel Arteta’s side in recent weeks, and speculation has increased to the point that his arrival is seemingly imminent.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Gabriel has actually completed his medical with Arsenal and has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, with an announcement apparently expected before the end of the week.

Multiple reports including from Romano and Gianluca Di Marzio point to a 30m euro deal (around £27million).

A number of teams from across Europe had apparently expressed interest in signing Gabriel and Merson thinks it would be a coup for Arsenal to get him despite having no Champions League football.

The Gunners finished eighth in the Premier League last season, though they qualified for the Europa League by virtue of beating Chelsea to the FA Cup earlier this month.

“If Arsenal sign Gabriel Magalhaes I think it’s a big statement because of all the other clubs that were after him,” Merson wrote in the Daily Star.

“If Arsenal have managed to get him in without having Champions League football to offer, I think that’s huge.”

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Gabriel was sensational for Lille last season and his skills and efforts could help bolster an Arsenal defence which has struggled at times and is currently missing several players due to injury.

“He’s an absolute machine, so to me, he’s well on his way – if not this year – to potentially a really big club,” Lille president Gerard Lopez told Sky Sports back in April.

“I’m certain he’s on his way to the Brazilian national team at some point.”

With Arsenal having won the FA Cup, qualified for the Europa League and looking invigorated under Arteta, things are looking up in the Gunners camp.

Adding Gabriel to their ranks, which looks like it’s imminent now, would indeed be a great statement of intent.