Arsenal claimed a 2-1 win over Brighton, but they were handed some fresh injury blows during the game.
19:45, 27 Dec 2025
Jurrien Timber during a warm-up.
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Jurrien Timber missed Arsenal's win over Brighton with an injury.(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta had provided updates on Arsenal's current injured players after their win over Brighton. The Gunners claimed a 2-1 victory over the Seagulls in north London on Saturday in the Premier League.
Martin Odegaard's early strike and an own goal from Georginio Rutter helped Arsenal claim all three points at the Emirates Stadium to return to the top of the Premier League table.
However, Arsenal were forced to go into the game with several players on the side-lines with injuries.
Jurrien Timber was absent from the squad, with Arteta saying that the Arsenal star 'landed awkwardly' but would not provide further details on the setback.
Riccardo Calafiori was initially named in the starting line-up for Arsenal, only to suffer an injury in the warm-up, as well, with Myles Lewis-Skelly stepping in as his replacement and Declan Rice being used at right-back.
Arteta provided more insight into the injury suffered by Calafiori after the win over Brighton.
"It's something that he [Calafiori] felt yesterday, something very awkward that happened, and today in the warm-up he wasn't comfortable," Arteta said.
Arsenal were also without Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Kai Havertz and Max Dowman for the win vs Brighton, but they did welcome back Gabriel Magalhaes to the matchday squad.
Gabriel was named on the bench by Arteta and was brought into the game in the 71st minute as a substitute.
While elaborating on the effect of frequent injuries for Arsenal this season, Arteta explained why Gabriel returned to fitness earlier than expected. "At the moment we survived six months, so let's see, there's another five and a half to go, so hopefully things will get better," Arteta said.
"The good news as well, for example we've got Gabi, we've got Gabi earlier than expected, which is great.
"The staff, they've done an incredible job.
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"The way he [Gabriel] pushes himself as well, and that's what we need, because we lost one, we've got somebody else back, and overall I think the performance was against a really good side, very, very good."
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