Arsenal face an anxious wait over Gabriel Magalhaes’ fitness after the defender was forced to withdraw from Brazil duty with a muscle injury. The 27-year-old limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and will miss their friendly against Tunisia on Tuesday. He returns to London for assessment by Arsenal’s medical team ahead of a pivotal stretch that begins with Sunday’s north London derby.
The timing could not be worse for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal host Tottenham before welcoming Bayern Munich and then travelling to Chelsea in a sequence that will define their season. Gabriel has been one of the Gunners’ standout performers this campaign, making his absence a serious concern.
The Brazilian Football Federation confirmed the injury on Sunday. Scans revealed a muscle problem in his right thigh. Gabriel will not travel with the national squad to Lille and instead undergoes further evaluation in north London this week.
Gabriel injury update leaves Arteta with defensive dilemma
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If Gabriel cannot recover in time, Arteta faces a reshuffle at the back. Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori are the options to step in. Calafiori did not feature for Italy during the international break but there is growing confidence that his hip issue is minor.
The 23-year-old has impressed at left-back this season. He could now be asked to switch inside and partner William Saliba at centre-back. That versatility may prove crucial if Gabriel is ruled out.
Arteta awaits news on Calafiori and returning stars
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Arteta will address the media later this week and is expected to provide updates on both Gabriel and Calafiori. He has already expressed hope that Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke could return for the derby. All three have been sidelined with knee injuries.
Gabriel Jesus has resumed full training but it remains unclear when he will be ready for competitive action. The striker has not played since January. His return would offer welcome depth as fixtures pile up.
Positive news for Saliba, Rice and Saka
There was better news elsewhere for Arsenal. Saliba remained on the bench for France’s 3-1 win over Azerbaijan on Sunday night, avoiding any additional workload. Declan Rice was withdrawn after an hour during England’s victory in Albania, while Bukayo Saka only played 30 minutes off the bench.
Both will return fresh and available for selection. That gives Arteta some relief as he navigates this critical period without several key figures.
The next 48 hours will be decisive. Arsenal need Gabriel available if they are to compete across three fronts. Arteta will hope the scans bring good news and that his defensive leader can take his place against Tottenham. Anything less would leave the Gunners vulnerable at the worst possible time.