Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal defender Gabriel to show him he is “wrong and blind” and work his way back into the starting 11.
The defender was a mainstay in the centre of the Gunners’ defence last season but has been named on the bench for the opening two Premier League games, with Ben White instead preferred alongside William Saliba.
Gabriel has been linked with a move away from Arsenal, with interest from Saudi Arabia in the Brazillian.
But the Arsenal boss insists he still has a key role to play this season and says he has explained to him why he has not been selected for the starting line-up.
“Yes, especially someone who has played a lot of minutes and games with us in the last year,” Arteta said when asked if he had explained the reasons to Gabriel for not playing him.
“I told him. He understands the reasons, whether he agrees or not is something different.
“But the best way to do it is when you play, tell me how blind and wrong I am.
“We have to focus on what is now, what is ahead, and how we’re going to evolve.
“There will be different relationships. Gabi will play a lot of games I’m sure and it’s about bringing the competition high and trying to make the team play better and better, and be more dominant and win more games.”
