Arsenal Face Fresh Defensive Worry After Gabriel Injury
Mikel Arteta's defensive plans have suffered a significant blow after key centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off with an injury while playing for Brazil. The incident occurred during an international friendly against Senegal held at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Injury Details Emerge
The 27-year-old defender appeared to sustain a problem with his groin, limping from the pitch in the 64th minute of the match. He was seen in clear discomfort, specifically pointing to the inside of his right thigh while consulting with the Brazilian medical team on the sidelines. The match itself ended in a 2-0 victory for Brazil, with goals from Chelsea's Estevao and Manchester United's Casemiro.
Brazil is scheduled for another friendly against Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday, but it is considered highly improbable that Gabriel will be risked for that fixture. All attention now turns to his recovery timeline ahead of a crucial club fixture.
Arteta's Defensive Headache Grows
This new injury concern compounds an existing problem for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Just on the same day, fellow defender Riccardo Calafiori withdrew from the Italy squad due to a hip injury. Italy's head coach, Gennaro Gattuso, confirmed the decision, stating it was not fair to make the player 'grit his teeth' with a busy club schedule ahead.
Arsenal's immediate focus will be on getting Gabriel fit for their next Premier League encounter, which is the highly anticipated North London derby against Tottenham next Sunday. The Gunners currently sit four points clear at the top of the table, making the availability of their first-choice defenders paramount in the title race.
