“He’s now the real leader” - Jamie Carragher suggests Arsenal star is now early favourite to win PFA Player of the Year award

Football pundit Jamie Carragher has named Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes as an early favorite for the 2026 PFA Player of the Year award. He hailed the Brazilian as the most influential player in the league and the most important player in Mikel Arteta's setup.

Arsenal have arguably been the best team in the Premier League so far this season. The Gunners currently lead the standings with 22 points from nine matches, and have registered only one loss, which came against reigning league champions, Liverpool.

Statistically, the Gunners also boast of the best defensive setup in the league, having conceded only three goals, while scoring 16 in the process. Arsenal's centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel have received a lot of praise for their formidable partnership and have proven to be one of the best in the league for the past couple of seasons.

However, Carragher believes that Gabriel leads the team from the back and rated him above Saliba. The former Liverpool defender highlighted the Brazilian's defensive and offensive contributions as the reason for his claim.

He said on SkySports (via The Standard):

“I think he’s now the real leader in this team. I think Saliba’s a fantastic player, I always felt Gabriel was maybe the junior partner if you like. I think that’s changed for me now."

Carragher continued:

“I think he’s a colossus at the back. He’s the leader for that team, he talks, he keeps Saliba in check at times in games. We’ve seen him defensively, but going forward at the other end, we’ve seen him for the goal, we’ve seen him hit the crossbar as well.

“This happens every game. He’s the best defender in the team that’s got the best defensive numbers and he’s the best attacker in terms of set-pieces going forward at the other end."

Craragher then named Gabriel as the most influential player in the league, and a frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Year award should Arsenal go on to lift the league title.

“That’s why for me, right now, I think Gabriel is the most influential player in the Premier League. I think if Arsenal are to go on and win the Premier League, and I know it’s early, he could be on course to go and win the PFA Player of the Year, or the player of the year from the football writers. Because right now, there is nobody more influential for Arsenal Football Club," he added.

The 2005 Champions League winner then compared the 27-year-old to Chelsea great John Terry and Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk, who are two of only three defenders to have won the prestigious individual award.

“I think if Arsenal go on and win the league, he’s the number one contender. I look at those other three players, all great players and leaders for their clubs like Gabriel is," Carragher continued.

“Actually, John Terry is the only one to win the Premier League in the year he won PFA Player of the Year. When you actually look at John Terry and Virgil van Dijk’s role, look at the goals.

“They are not just big leaders at the back, but the numbers of goals. His [Gabriel’s] record is actually far better than theirs when you look at those numbers.” he concluded.

Paul McGrath was the first defender to scoop home the PFA Player of the Year award in 1992, doing so with Manchester United. Terry won the award in 2005, and Van Dijk in 2019.

Gabriel will be hoping to inspire the Gunners to lift the Premier League after finishing as a runner-up in the past three seasons. He has recorded a goal and an assist in nine league outings this term.

Wayne Rooney sends strong message to Arsenal boss after flying start to the 2025-26 season

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes that Mikel Arteta could be facing the sack if he fails to guide the Gunners to silverware this season. The north London club have managed just one FA Cup win and two Community Shields since the Spaniard took over in 2019.

Under Arteta, Arsenal have transformed into strong title contenders, finishing as runners-up in the last three campaigns. They have started the season strongly and currently lead the standings after nine games.

Rooney believes the 43-year-old manager needs to do more by winning the league this season or he risks losing his job. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show with the BBC (via Arsenal Insider), he said:

“If they don’t win it now, then, you know, you probably see a change of manager if they don’t win it now.”

Arsenal will also fancy their chances of lifting other trophies up for grabs. They have begun their Champions League campaign with a perfect record, winning three consecutive matches, and are in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, where they will face Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, October 29.