Arsenal's defensive resources have been stretched after manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that key centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes faces a significant spell on the sidelines.
The Brazilian defender was absent for the Gunners' 1-1 draw away at Chelsea on Sunday, 30th November 2025, and will not be returning to action for 'some weeks' due to a thigh injury sustained on international duty.
Defensive Crisis at Stamford Bridge
Arsenal travelled to Stamford Bridge without their entire first-choice central defensive pairing. While Gabriel's absence was expected, William Saliba's late withdrawal came as a surprise after the Frenchman felt 'uncomfortable' during training on Saturday.
This forced Arteta to field backup defenders Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera against a determined Chelsea side. The makeshift pairing performed admirably in a feisty London derby that saw Chelsea reduced to ten men after Moises Caicedo's first-half red card.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Chelsea took the lead shortly after half-time through Trevoh Chalobah, before Mikel Merino equalised for Arsenal just before the hour mark. The result maintained Arsenal's five-point lead at the Premier League summit.
Arteta's Injury Update and Squad Depth Tested
Speaking after the match, Arteta provided a mixed update on his injured defenders. Regarding Saliba, he stated: 'I think [Wilo] has another test tomorrow to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had, then we'll know more. I don't think it's something major.'
The news was less promising for Gabriel, with Arteta confirming the Brazilian's recovery is still some weeks away.
Arteta admitted that coping without both central defenders has been challenging. 'It's been a headache,' he said, 'because we've had to have a lot of options and changes over the last few months for different reasons. That one [Saliba] is very unexpected and it happened yesterday.'
Silver Linings in Defensive Performance
Despite the injury concerns, Arteta found positives in how his squad adapted. He praised the willingness of players like Hincapie and Mosquera to step up, noting their performance provided 'the reassurance that whoever is there is going to perform.'
There was positive news on the bench, with Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, and Martin Odegaard all returning to the squad. Beyond Gabriel, Saliba, and the already sidelined Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, Arsenal's injury list is clearing.
The Gunners will now hope for a positive update on Saliba while navigating the coming weeks without their influential Brazilian defender.
