Arsenal star Gabriel lined up for Saudi transfer after opening-day omission

The Gunners are aware of the interest but it remains to be seen whether they would be open to selling, having previously rebuffed interest in the Brazil centre-half

Arsenal defender Gabriel is the latest big-name star to be targeted for a big-money move to Saudi Arabia.

The Gunners are aware of the interest but it remains to be seen whether they would be open to selling, having previously rebuffed interest in the Brazil centre-half.

Gabriel, 25, was a surprise omission from Arsenal ’s starting line-up for their season opener with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

He was a mainstay in Arsenal’s defence last term but the Saudi Pro League have been able to tempt big names like Jordan Henderson from Liverpool with Brazilian superstar Neymar the latest to be on the move with an incredible £2.5m-a-week pay deal.

The eye-watering sums have been tempting the players but Arsenal are under no pressure to sell Gabriel and have yet to receive a firm bid for the defender who joined Arsenal from Lille for £27m in the summer of 2020.

‌Arsenal would have to replace him and are long term admirers of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has also been a target for Chelsea this summer. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta would also be interested in Aymeric Laporte, who he worked with at Manchester City.

But with time ticking down in the transfer window, it would be a huge rush to do a major sale and then also line up another deal. That could also be more difficult as Arsenal face an anxious wait over the results on Holland defender Jurrien Timber after he suffered a knee injury on his debut against Forest on Saturday.

Reports in Holland say that he has suffered a serious knee injury but Arsenal are stressing that they are still assessing the severity of the problem.

But either way the £40m summer signing looks set for a lay-off and that may mean they will be keen that there is no firm bid made from Saudi Arabia for Gabriel.