Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had good and badinjury news when it came to the defensive duo of Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel, revealing that only the Brazilian was in contention to feature against Everton on Saturday.
Both defenders would arguably figure in Arteta's first-choice back four if fully fit. However, the pair have been sidelined since the end of November.
Gabriel thumped in the first of seven first-half goals in a bonkers 5-2 victory for Arsenal at West Ham's London Stadium last month, but did not return for the second half after taking a blow to the head from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, although he was also struggling with a muscular issue. Calafiori lasted less than ten minutes before he gave in to a groin problem and was replaced by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Neither has returned for Arsenal's subsequent three matches against Manchester United, Fulham and, most recently, the 3-0 Champions League triumph over Monaco.
Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori has had a few injury setbacks this season / Visionhaus/GettyImages
In his press conference ahead of a Premier League visit from Everton, Arteta was quizzed on the fitness of his defensive duo. "There is a possibility with one of them to be available," the Spaniard tentatively revealed. "He trained today. It's Gabriel."
When pushed on the status of Calafiori, Arteta added: "We're just respecting the times that the medical department has set. We monitor him every day."
Arteta's fitness updates should be taken with caution. Earlier this season, Zinchenko revealed the injury mind games which his manager has resorted to in the past to keep opposition managers guessing.
While both Gabriel and Calafiori are key figures in Arsenal's setup, their absence has not been too keenly felt. The Gunners have conceded just one goal and only six shots on target across the trio of missed matches.
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