Before Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes arrived in September 2020, Arsenal were not known for having a particularly solid backline.
The Brazilian quickly became a key figure in defence, though his early years were a mixed bag — solid at times, but occasionally prone to rash challenges that proved costly for the team.
Under Mikel Arteta, Gabriel has grown into one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre-backs, helping the Gunners to three consecutive second-place finishes in the English top flight.
His influence extends beyond defending. With his aerial ability, Gabriel has been central to Arsenal’s set-piece success, and his 18 Premier League goals since debuting are more than any other defender in the same period.
It is little wonder he has become a fan favourite. Even after an earlier chant was composed for him, supporters found inspiration for another.
Below, we take a look at the lyrics, the tune, and the story behind ‘You'll Fall in Love, I Know You Will’, the song many Arsenal fans now associate with Gabriel.
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Gabriel chant, lyrics and tune
In ‘You'll Fall in Love, I Know You Will', Arsenal fans celebrate the status of Magalhaes as a central pillar of the club's defence. The chant was not composed by a single songwriter; rather, it emerged organically from the stands and gained popularity during the 2022/23 season.
Like many popular football chants, the Gabriel chant likely started with a small group of Arsenal supporters, especially in the North Bank or Clock End stands.
With no official composer of the song, it features easy-to-pick-up, repetitive and adaptable lines as follows:
You'll fall in love, I know you will
Our number 6 is the king of Brazil
Our centre-half, he'll give you hell
Our wall at the back is Gabriel
Ole Ole Ole Ola
Gabriel Magalhães on his new chant. 🎶
🗣️ “First I was very happy that is a recognition of a job properly done. They are always there helping us so I’m very happy for it and I’m sure that I will do the best I can to make them happy.” https://t.co/SqnVl5VtYt
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) February 20, 2024
Gabriel reveals love for his new chant
An interesting tune that quickly became irresistible to the Gunners faithful, the chant has even earned admiration from Gabriel himself.
In an interview with Sky Sports Premier League on YouTube, the Arsenal number six was asked if he knew about the chant and he confirmed that he does.
Speaking about Arsenal’s win against Newcastle United, where he scored a late header, Gabriel highlighted how the fans spurred the team towards victory and how he heard the chant in the stands.
He was asked to recite it and delivered every line and tune perfectly, even adding that his daughter loves it.
Alternative Gabriel chant
While ‘You'll Fall in Love, I Know You Will' is the most popular Gabriel chant, the alternative one, like ‘No one Gets past him', is also worth mentioning. However, it seemed to have gained prominence on social media in early 2023, but not from the Emirates Stadium stands.
Arsenal fans singing the Gabriel chant
Below is a video of Arsenal fans singing the Gabriel chant during a home game.
FGG Says: A catchy tribute for a solid defender
Gabriel's chant perfectly captures the spirit of a classic terrace anthem: catchy, straightforward and heartfelt. It celebrates not just his defensive qualities, but also his growing importance to Arsenal's identity under Arteta.
Every time it rings around Emirates, it reinforces the bond between the player and fans, turning Gabriel into more than just a centre-back: he has become a symbol of resilience and passion. It may not be the longest or the most elaborate of chants, but its simplicity is its strength, and like its subject, the chant does the job brilliantly.