Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that there is a good chance that both Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori will be available to face Fulham on Sunday.
The pair were left out of the 2-0 win over Manchester United and, asked about their fitness after the match, Arteta said:
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“Gabi was a big risk to play today [against Manchester United] because he felt something against West Ham.”
“Sunday [versus Fulham] is going to be a possibility with Riccardo as well, let’s see how he reacts.”
Why did Gabriel and Calafiori miss the United fixture?
Both players were forced off during the 5-2 win over West Ham last weekend. Gabriel only made it to half-time with Arteta confirming that the defender was still carrying an injury that he sustained in the closing minutes of the Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon.
Calafiori, meanwhile, lasted slightly longer than Gabriel versus the Hammers, being replaced after 56 minutes, with Arteta citing the fact that the Italian has picked up some minor niggles since returning from a knee injury.
Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko came in as replacements against United and gave a good account of themselves, but it seems Gabriel and Calafiori are nearing a return to full fitness.
Fulham v Arsenal team news
The Gunners have two other players on the treatment table. Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently unavailable due to a knee problem that has kept him sidelined for most of the season.
Ben White, meanwhile, underwent knee surgery during the last international break and there are suggestions that he could be out until February
Fulham play Brighton on Thursday night before hosting Arsenal this weekend. Jorge Cuenca and Ryan Sessegnon face late fitness tests, while Joachim Andersen (calf) and Harrison Reed (knee) have been ruled out.
Sasa Lukic will return to face the Gunners after serving a one-match suspension against the Seagulls. Captain Tom Cairney, though, won’t be in the squad as he serves a three-match ban.
Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here