Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has seemingly emerged as a fitness doubt for Saturday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
On Tuesday evening, the Gunners produced their most ruthless performance of the season as they ran out 5-1 victors against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
Gabriel was one of five players to get on the scoresheet at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, the others being Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.
Sitting in seventh place in the Champions League table ahead of Wednesday's fixtures, Mikel Arteta's side are in a strong position to qualify for the last 16.
However, Brazil international Gabriel was unable to complete the game versus the Portuguese giants after seemingly picking up a knock.
Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes pictured on September 22, 2024© Imago
What has Arteta had to say?
Speaking after the match, Arteta has acknowledged that he had planned to give a brief substitute outing to Raheem Sterling prior to Gabriel picking up an issue.
As quoted by football.london, the Spaniard said: "We had to make the change because he was feeling some discomfort.
"I was about to make the change for Raz [Raheem Sterling], poor thing, I couldn't make the sub. We had to get him out."
Jakub Kiwior - who was making just his second Champions League appearance of the season - was introduced into the action instead.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on October 19, 2024© Imago
Doubt for West Ham?
Arsenal and Arteta now faces an anxious wait to see whether Gabriel will recover in time to take to the pitch against West Ham on Saturday night.
With Ben White already sidelined in the long term, Arteta will want to avoid further tinkering with his established backline.
Should Gabriel miss out, Kiwior is in contention to start as a straight replacement, but Riccardo Calafiori could plausibly switch from left-back into the middle.
Olekasandr Zinchenko earned more minutes as a substitute on Tuesday and could be handed his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season.
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