Arsenal have a number of injury worries ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham with Mikel Arteta hoping for good news this week.
10:19, 17 Nov 2025Updated 10:20, 17 Nov 2025
Gabriel Magalhaes during the International Friendly match between Brazil and Senegal at Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal have been handed an injury worry over Gabriel Magalhaes(Image: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal have injury and fitness worries over several players ahead of the return of the Premier League after the November international break.
It’s back to action with a bang for the Gunners next Sunday as they host North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium (4.30pm kick-off).
Ahead of the game, Arsenal have been handed one big injury worry in particular. Influential defender Gabriel Magalhaes limped off the Emirates Stadium pitch during Brazil’s friendly with Senegal on Saturday.
Despite the player warming up separately from the rest of the team due to concerns about load management, he started the match. However, in the second half he was forced off the pitch with a thigh injury.
Following the match, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said : "Bad? I don’t know, he had a problem on his adductor the medical staff have to check tomorrow.
"We are really sorry for this, really disappointed, when players have an injury I hope they can recover well and soon.”
The next day, the Brazilian Football Association gave an update . "Arsenal player Gabriel Magalhaes was re-evaluated this Sunday and underwent imaging tests that revealed a muscle injury in his right thigh,” the statement read.
"Therefore, the player will not travel with the team for the match against Tunisia in Lille. No other player will be called up to replace him."
How serious the injury is, or how long it could keep him out for is still to be seen. Manager Mikel Arteta will give the latest in his pre-match press conference later this week.
The international break also brought concern over Riccardo Calafiori. The full-back dropped out of the Italy squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Norway.
Riccardo Calafiori prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Moldova and Italy.
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Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori dropped out of the Italy squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Norway(Image: Mattia Ozbot - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
However, in a boost to Arsenal, it has since been claimed that the defender will be available to play against Tottenham despite his withdrawal from international duties.
Arteta will be hoping for more good news over players’ availability this week. Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke have all been on the sidelines.
They are all closing in on a return with it hoped that at least some will be available to make an appearance in the North London derby.
"It's moving forward," Odegaard said of his injury comeback on Sunday. "The match today came a little too early... But it's starting to look better, so hopefully I'll be back soon."
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Longer-term absentees Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are also closing in on a return, although the game against Tottenham could come too early for both of them.
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