Gabriel Magalhaes has admitted a talk with manager Mikel Arteta helped convince him to stay at Arsenal last summer.
The Brazilian centre-back was a regular starter last season but was benched for the start of the current campaign until injuries to Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey forced Arteta to rethink his tactical tweak.
Saudi Arabian officials lodged their interest in Gabriel at the time but the defender has now praised Arteta for showing him that he still had a future at the Emirates.
“It was tough, obviously at the start. I wanted to play and it was very difficult for me but I understood what the coach had to do,” Gabriel told PA.
“It is difficult for any player to not be in the team but now I’m back in I want to keep on working hard to prove my worth.
“He [Arteta] spoke to me and obviously explained the reasons behind the decision, why I should stay – but the most important thing was to remain focused and concentrate. He knew how important I was to the team, so I’m happy to be back and to be able to help the team in every game.
“I’m happy to be back in the team and hopefully I can help them moving forward.”
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Ham, Arteta heaped praise on Gabriel for his re-emergence as one of the top performers in the team and also admitted he had played a part in keeping the defender on track for Arsenal.
“There are a lot of things that have happened to him,” said Arteta. “His role in the team has grown. In his personal life as well, he’s got a very different personal life than he had before with his family and his language.
“And I think now as well, I think he changed a lot of things in his life and he improved his mentality and he can decide what he wants to be and I think he made the right call to take the direction that he took.”
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