With Gabriel Magalhaes out for the season, Arsenal are at least hopeful that Jurrien Timber and Ben White shouldn’t miss too long.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Gabriel of Arsenal looks dejected as he leaves the pitch after picking up an injury during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on April 01, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to miss the rest of the season after a hamstring injury, with Arsenal confirming that the problem will require surgery.
But Gabriel isn’t the only Arsenal defender whose availability is in doubt. Takehiro Tomiyasu is out, Riccardo Calafiori is likely to miss at least the first leg, and Jurrien Timber and Ben White have both suffered injury scares over the last week as well.
White was absent from the Arsenal squad to face Fulham after struggling with a problem in training, whilst Timber was withdrawn during the second half of Tuesday’s win.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Jurrien Timber of Arsenal controls the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United FC at Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
John Cross reports for the Mirror that Timber is hoping his knee injury is not serious, and the club are desperate for him to be involved against Real Madrid.
As for White, the defender’s own knee issue flared up in training, but there’s reportedly hope he could be ready for the Champions League tie as well.
Those would be major positives in Gabriel’s absence, with the two players both capable of playing at centre-back. Mikel Arteta would have choices beyond just picking Jakub Kiwior, which is currently the only realistic option.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on December 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
More importantly, at least one of them need to be fit if Arsenal want to play a natural full-back on the right of the defence. Without Tomiyasu, Timber and White are Arsenal’s only regular right-backs.
It’s now just days until Real Madrid visit the Emirates Stadium, with the match to take place on Tuesday, April 8th at 20:00 BST.
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