Carlo Ancelotti has named Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes in his Brazil squad for November, and the pair face a trip to Singapore that ends just four days before Arsenal go to St James’ Park.
The Italian picked a 26-man group on Thursday for friendlies against Japan on 14 November and Singapore on 17 November, both at the National Stadium in Singapore. They are Brazil’s last games of 2026, and the Singapore match is the first ever senior meeting between the two nations.
Neither call-up will shock anyone. But for Mikel Arteta, who has spent this week counting bodies, the timing is what stands out.
Gabriel and Guimaraes in the Brazil squad: what it means for Arsenal
Both are key men right now. Gabriel should be back at the heart of the defence at Anfield on Sunday, and Guimaraes, who joined from Newcastle United for £75m in August, is expected to start next to Declan Rice in our Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool.
The second Brazil game comes on 17 November. Arsenal’s first match after the break is at Newcastle on 21 November, which leaves four days to get home from Singapore and be ready for Guimaraes’ first trip back to the club he left in the summer.
Arsenal’s run around the Brazil call-ups
That is before you look at what surrounds it. The Gunners have three games before anyone travels, then three more straight after the break:
- Liverpool away, Sunday 1 November
- Slavia Prague, Champions League, Wednesday 4 November
- Hull City at home, Saturday 7 November
- Newcastle away, 21 November
- Borussia Dortmund at home, three days later
- Manchester City at home, 29 November
So the run out of the break takes in Newcastle, Dortmund and City in eight days, and William Saliba is not expected back before December. Arsenal will want Gabriel fit and fresh for all of it.
A young Brazil squad, and a familiar opponent
Ancelotti’s group is a young one, with 15 players under 23 and five uncapped names, as he rebuilds after a disappointing World Cup. Vinicius Junior and Raphinha are also included.
Japan will ring a bell for the Arsenal pair. Both started Brazil’s 2-1 win over them in the round of 32 in Houston in June, when Gabriel assisted Casemiro’s equaliser and Guimaraes set up Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner.
Will Gabriel and Guimaraes play both Brazil games?
That is the question Arsenal will care about, and nobody has answered it yet. With so many younger players to look at, there is at least a case for Ancelotti to share the minutes around across the two games.
Arteta will not get a say in that. What he can do is make sure neither man arrives in Singapore carrying a knock, and with Liverpool, Slavia and Hull still to come first, that is easier said than done.
