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Arsenal offer update on injured Gabriel Magalhaes

By mac14 on May 13, 2022

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will need to assess Gabriel after he was forced off with a muscle injury during the defeat to Tottenham on Thursday night.

Gabriel has been a mainstay in the middle of Arsenal’s defence this season and once again started against Spurs at White Hart Lane for our crucial North London Derby yesterday.

However, the Brazilian international went down clutching the back of his right thigh during the second half and was replaced by Nuno Tavares in the 76th minute.

Speaking after the game, Arteta confirmed that Gabriel ‘felt something’ and asked to be substituted so the club are going to have to assess the defender to determine the full scale of the issue.

The boss hopes the ‘muscular problem’ isn’t serious as Rob Holding is suspended for Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle on Monday after being sent off against Spurs while Ben White was an unused substitute having not trained due to a thigh injury that’s kept him out recently.

Arteta told Arsenal.com:

on Gabriel’s injury…

I don’t know. Gabi is normally not a player who wants to or asks to come off the pitch, he felt something and hopefully it’s not much, because having Rob out and Ben with no training sessions, obviously we are really short in that position.

on if Gabriel’s injury is hamstring-related…

It’s a muscular problem, and we’ll have to assess him.

Let’s pray the injury isn’t serious but even a minor hamstring issue is likely to rule Gabriel out of Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle. That means we’ll have just one centre-back available if White is declared fit to start. If not, then we are screwed.

Assuming White is available, I expect we’ll see a back four of Soares, White, Tomiyasu and Tavares starting at St James’ Park. Not exactly ideal for a pivotal game that we need to win.

Injuries and suspensions have hit the club just at the wrong time of the season. Let’s hope the players manage to pull through and secure two wins to wrap-up fourth place.