EPL: Mikel Arteta names Arsenal player important to his squad

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has identified defender Gabriel Magalhaes as an important player for the Gunners.

Arteta spoke at his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League tie with Fulham on Saturday.

The Spaniard also expects a busy end to the summer transfer window for Arsenal but is eager to keep Magalhaes at Emirates.

Magalhaes is the latest Premier League star to be linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad reportedly interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer.

The Brazilian formed an instrumental partnership with William Saliba as Arsenal mounted a title challenge last season but dropped to the bench for Arsenal’s opening Premier League games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, respectively.

But Arteta has now stressed that Magelhaes remains an important part of his plans.

“Gabby is really important for us, an important player — there is nothing going on at the moment,” Arteta told a press conference on Friday.

Asked about Arsenal’s outgoing business over the coming weeks, Arteta added: “There are some movements happening.

“The last week is going to be busy – nothing that we can announce at the moment.”