Having earned a place in the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, Gabriel has described his current experience with Brazil as a “dream lived,” expressing immense pride at representing his country on the international stage.
In a recent press conference while on international duty, Gabriel said, “I believe that every moment here is a dream lived for me, for my family and my friends.
“Every day in here is a dream come true. I’m very happy to be here. It is the result of a lot of work.”
Gabriel’s joy at being part of the Brazil setup is evident and underscores his determination to continue working hard to keep his place in the squad, especially after setbacks he faced, such as a late-season injury that affected his participation in the Copa America where he played just three minutes.
Gabriel, now firmly embedded in Brazil’s plans for the future, explained, “I know my potential and only work would put me here again. That’s what I did… I worked hard and did my best to put the national team shirt back on.
“I’m happy to be here today and to have played. Unfortunately, I had an injury in the last Premier League game last season and I was still with the group (in the Copa America). I recovered as soon as possible, I was available, and this is the most important thing.”
Arsenal’s defensive powerhouse
Since joining Arsenal in 2020 from Lille for a fee of around £27 million, Gabriel has become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s squad after he made an immediate impact on his debut, scoring in a 3-0 win over Fulham.
His strong performances in his first season earned him multiple Arsenal Player of the Month awards, quickly establishing him as one of the team’s key defenders.
Gabriel’s form at Arsenal has only improved with time, contributing 15 goals as well as solid defensive performances.
His ability to score from set-pieces became a valuable asset for the Gunners, particularly in crucial moments such as his match-winning goal against Chelsea in November 2022 and his goal against West Ham in May 2022, which helped Arsenal in their push for Champions League qualification.
In the 2023-24 season, Gabriel continued to deliver standout performances, marking his 100th Premier League appearance in a win against Everton and scoring on his 150th against West Ham.
He also netted his first brace for Arsenal in a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace in January 2024.
Dreaming of more with Brazil
Gabriel’s rise to prominence at Arsenal has translated into regular call-ups to the Brazilian national team.
He acknowledges that being part of the Selecao is not without its challenges, particularly with heavy criticism aimed at the team during the Copa America.
However, the defender remains optimistic, confident that the group will improve as they gain more playing time together.
“We have a lot to improve. From the moment we are on the field, things will flow better. We will not stop fighting, as you saw against Ecuador, but will will not be lacking in our team.
“From the moment you wear the national team shirt, you assume that responsibility,” Gabriel said.
