Mikel Arteta has confirmed Gabriel Magalhaes will miss several weeks of action after picking up a muscular injury on international duty with Brazil. The Arsenal defender was forced off during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday. Initial tests suggested he would be sidelined for at least one month, but Arsenal’s medical staff are awaiting further scans to determine the exact timeline.
Arteta addressed the media on Friday and delivered the unfortunate news ahead of Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham. He said: “Yeah Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury and he’s going to be out for weeks. We need to have another scan next Wednesday and we will have the timeline much more clear.” The centre-back’s absence leaves a significant gap in Arsenal’s defence during a crucial period of the season.
Riccardo Calafiori also remains doubtful after withdrawing from Italy duty with a hip problem. The left-back has not trained since returning to London and his availability for Tottenham remains uncertain.
Gabriel Magalhaes injury blow for Arsenal ahead of derby
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Gabriel Magalhaes has been one of Arsenal’s most important players this season. His absence will be felt immediately as the Gunners prepare to face Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. The Brazilian’s defensive prowess and aerial dominance have been crucial to Arsenal’s solid defensive record.
Arsenal will conduct another scan on Wednesday to establish a clearer timeline for his return. Until then, Arteta must plan without his first-choice centre-back for multiple fixtures. The injury comes at an unfortunate time with a packed schedule ahead.
Initial assessments pointed to a month-long absence. That would rule Gabriel out of several Premier League matches and potentially European fixtures. Arsenal’s medical team will assess the situation more thoroughly next week before providing a definitive answer.
Calafiori fitness concern adds to Arsenal problems
Calafiori withdrew from Italy’s World Cup qualification matches against Moldova and Norway due to a hip issue. He sat out the win over Moldova and Italy decided against rushing him back for the 4-1 defeat to Norway, given they could no longer secure top spot in their group.
Arteta provided an update on the left-back, saying: “Yeah he wasn’t available, he’s been carrying a few things and we had to bring him back. He hasn’t trained yet, we have a session tomorrow so we will see.” His availability for Sunday remains in doubt with just one training session remaining before the match.
The 23-year-old has impressed at left-back this season but can also play at centre-back. His versatility makes him a valuable option for Arteta, particularly with Gabriel Magalhaes now sidelined. But his own fitness problems complicate Arsenal’s defensive planning.
Arsenal’s record without Gabriel shows his importance
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The statistics highlight Gabriel’s importance to Arsenal. Since September 2020, they have played 171 Premier League games with him in the side. They won 110 of those matches, drew 27 and lost 34. That represents a win percentage of 64.3 per cent.
Without Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal have played 30 Premier League matches. They won just 12, drew 10 and lost eight. Their win percentage drops to 40 per cent when he is unavailable. Those numbers demonstrate how much Arsenal rely on the Brazilian’s presence in defence.
Arteta has options to replace Gabriel. Cristhian Mosquera slotted in for William Saliba earlier in the season when the Frenchman rolled his ankle. Calafiori and Piero Hincapie can also play at centre-back if needed. But none possess Gabriel’s combination of physicality, aerial dominance and experience.
Arteta hopeful other players return for Tottenham
Arteta indicated other injured players could return for the derby, though he did not name specific individuals. He continued: “We have put in a lot of energy to bring them back as quick as possible. Tomorrow we will have more clarity. I am hopeful that we will take another step tomorrow.”
Arsenal will assess their squad during Saturday’s training session. That final workout will determine which players are available for selection against Tottenham. Arteta needs positive news to offset the loss of Gabriel Magalhaes and the potential absence of Calafiori.
The north London derby represents Arsenal’s biggest match of the season so far. Losing Gabriel weakens their defensive options at the worst possible moment. Arteta must now decide which combination of defenders can best cope with Tottenham’s attacking threat while maintaining Arsenal’s defensive solidity.
Related Items:Latest Gabriel Magalhaes News | Transfer News | Injury News and Update, North London Derby, Tottenham Hotspur
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