The defender limped off during Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night
The club have now confirmed that Gabriel requires surgery on the injury
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Published: 09:23 EDT, 3 April 2025 | Updated: 09:52 EDT, 3 April 2025
Arsenal defender Gabriel Maghalhaes has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The first-team star was forced to limp off just 16 minutes into theirPremier League clash againstFulham in the latest injury blow to Mikel Arteta and his side.
The Gunners confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday, which said: 'Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery.
'Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.
'Everyone at the club will be fully focused on supporting Gabi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible'.
The injury comes as a major blow to the Gunners ahead of their crucial first-leg Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Maghalhaes has been ruled out for the rest of the season
The defender suffered the injury during Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night
In the same match where Arteta welcomed back Bukayo Saka from a long-term injury, the Gunners boss was dealt a brutal blow as Gabriel was forced off.
In the 16th minute of the match against Fulham, the Brazilian was seen clutching the back of his right leg before he ambled off the pitch and went straight down the tunnel.
Speaking after the match, Arsenal managerMikel Arteta said: ‘Yes (there is concern) because he (Gabriel) never comes off'.
On Wednesday afternoon, Gabriel's wife, Gabrielle Figueiredo, broken her silence over the matter during an exclusive interview with Mail Sport.
Figueiredo was unable provide reassurance for fans when she opened up on her husband's injury, discussing the challenges on-pitch issues can present for the families of Premier League players.
'It's difficult,' Figueiredo said at a screening of Amazon Prime's Married To The Game. 'I think the perfect example is now, because he got injured yesterday.
'So that is why he's not here with me today. He would love to be here. I would love to be here with him.
'Yesterday we got the news he got injured, and now he is with the doctor having scans. So this is the real life, and we were never expected to anything like this'.
The defender will miss Arsenal's crucial Champions League clash against Real Madrid
Arteta must negotiate a quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, starting at the Emirates next week
Arsenal will, however, be with star man Saka who made a welcome return to the side for the Premier League clash on Tuesday.
The England international even found the back of the net on the night after a neatly taken header at the back post late on.
In the 16 games that the 23-year-old was available in the league for Arsenal, they scored 34 goals at a rate of 2.1 per game.
In the 13 that he missed, the Gunners scored 19 at a rate of 1.5 per match — that’s a big drop off.