Stuart Pearce says he really likes watching ‘aggressive’ Arsenal player who can hurt opponents

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Arsenal won’t be unhappy with their points tally at this stage of the Premier League season despite finding themselves fourth in the standings.

The Gunners have three wins, a draw and a loss apiece from five games but have already faced tricky away trips to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

In their previous league encounter, they were held to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a late goal from John Stones, who parried the ball into the back of the net with virtually the last kick of the game in stoppage time.

Despite the result, Arsenal played out of their skins and several players were at the top of their game.

One of them was Gabriel Magalhaes, who capped off a valiant display at the back with a goal at the other end. And Stuart Pearce feels the Arsenal man has a bit of a nasty side to him that he really appreciates.

Stuart Pearce lauds Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes’ aggression

The former England international pointed out that Gabriel sometimes leaves a little bit on opposition players, making him a fierce competitor to come up against.

“I watch Gabriel play whenever I am covering Arsenal. I like the way he plays the game,” Pearce said on talkSPORT (9:13 AM, Sept 24th).

“He is quite aggressive. He tries to be aggressive with the players he is playing against, leaving a little bit on every now and then. Don’t mind that.”

Pep Guardiola also lavished praise on Gabriel for his performance against Man City, which is a clear sign that the Brazilian has grown in stature in recent seasons.

What next for Gabriel?

Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are in early talks with Gabriel over a potential extension, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2027.

The Gunners have time on their side to offer him a new contract but are wary of interest from other clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain keeping tabs on Gabriel, among others.

The 26-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in world football currently and will play a key role for Arsenal this season as they aim to win the Premier League title.

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