Huge blow: Gabriel limped off for Arsenal against Fulham
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Arsenal face a nervous wait to assess injuries to Gabriel and Jurrien Timber, after the pair were forced off against Fulham.
Gabriel picked up a hamstring injury early in the first-half of the 2-1 win, and had to limp on as the visitors attacked despite the Gunners’ appeals for the ball to be kicked out.
Gabriel went straight off and down the tunnel when play was stopped, with Jakub Kiwior introduced in his place, and that immediately raised doubts over his availability to face Real Madrid, who travel to north London next week for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie.
Timber also went down in the first-half but was able to continue, only to then require treatment in the second period and be forced off.
“The downside is Gabi and Jurrien,” Arteta said after the match as he reflected on the match.
“We don’t know how they are going to be. We will be assessing them tomorrow and understand better how we are with those two.
“If there are two players in this team who never want to come off, it’s those two probably. Gabi felt something in his hamstring, we don’t know how big that is.
Read More
Why isn't Arsenal vs Fulham live on TV in UK today?
Why isn't Arsenal vs Fulham live on TV in UK today?
Will Bukayo Saka start for Arsenal tonight against Fulham?
Will Bukayo Saka start for Arsenal tonight against Fulham?
Arsenal XI vs Fulham: Starting lineup and confirmed team news
Arsenal XI vs Fulham: Starting lineup and confirmed team news
Sponsored
How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK
How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK
“And with Jurrien as well. He already was struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue and at some point he couldn’t. That’s the downside. Jurrien was a knee [injury].”
Arsenal are already without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up a knee injury while away with Italy in the international break.
Ben White was also ruled out of the Fulham match with that the club described as a “niggle”, and the latest double blow leaves Arsenal increasingly short of options in defence.
“The good thing is it’s been like this all season,” Arteta said.
“You see Martinelli today, we missed him for three months. You see Bukayo, four months. Kai [Havertz] four months, Gabi Jesus almost the whole season.
“How we have managed to be where we are with all those injuries... Ben White hasn’t participated at all this season. It is what it is. But we want it so much that we’re going to give it a real go.
“We lose four players in the defensive line in one week. Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabi. We have still another four that they are so willing that they will do the job.”