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Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Gabriel Magalhaes messaged him after he criticised the Arsenal star\u2019s performances last season.<\/p>\n
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The Manchester United legend has been critical of the centre-back a few times in the past over his occasionally \u2018rash\u2019 decision making that has, or nearly has cost his side valuable points.<\/p>\n
This includes back in April, when Gabriel gave away a penalty in the 2-2 draw at West Ham that derailed Arsenal\u2019s title challenge, with Ferdinand saying: \u2018I\u2019ve said this about Gabriel a few times. He\u2019s rash, he makes mad, wild decisions.<\/p>\n
\u2018As a defender you\u2019ve got to be calm. There\u2019s no need for him to do what he did. It was a rush of blood, he needs to eradicate that, get that out of his game quick.<\/p>\n
\u2018As a manager you don\u2019t want to see that. Because those types of things ruin the head too many times, it starts becoming part of their make-up, and you\u2019re going, \u201chold on, can I rely on this guy?\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n
Four months on, it seems that Mikel Arteta has had those doubts, with Gabriel failing to start the opening three Premier League games of this season, and though there have been rumours of a transfer, he is likely to stay at the Emirates because of the injury to Jurrien Timber.<\/p>\n
Many are surprised to see Arteta drop the Brazilian and while discussing the matter on the FIVE podcast, Ferdinand revealed that the 25-year-old contacted him last season over his comments.<\/p>\n
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\u2018I said that last year,\u2019 the former defender said when asked if Gabriel being dropped was due to his past mistakes. \u2018And he didn\u2019t like it. He DM\u2019d me. In the DM\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is a big thing, for me, with players today, they can\u2019t take criticism. Players today, not all of them, I have had quite a few players who have come through their agents.<\/p>\n
\u2018I have said, \u201cdon\u2019t you get your agent to speak to me. You get your player to come and chat to me and I will chat to him, no problem\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2018Yes, he [Gabriel] come direct to me, which I respect. But, at the same time, I don\u2019t think he saw what I was saying.\u2019<\/p>\n
Having conceded two sloppy gaols in a disappointing draw against Fulham last Saturday, Arteta may well be thinking about reinstating Gabriel back into his starting XI for this Sunday\u2019s game against Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Red Devils have received a huge injury boost ahead of the big clash, with \u00a372million signing Rasmus Hojlund in line to make his debut.<\/p>\n