Arsenal have been dealt a major setback ahead of Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, with Mikel Arteta confirming that centre back Gabriel Magalhães will be out for several weeks with a thigh injury.
The 27-year-old sustained the problem while on international duty with Brazil and is now facing a spell on the sidelines at a crucial stage of the season.
Gabriel has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence, forming a dominant partnership with William Saliba. The pair have helped the Gunners concede just five goals in 11 Premier League matches, a record that has taken them to the top of the table, four points clear of Manchester City.
“Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the national team. He will be out for weeks,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. “We need to have another scan next Wednesday. We will have the timeline much more clearly than we have at the moment.
“It’s clearly a blow. It’s our leader in our backline. To miss him is never a positive thing. The good thing is we have some very good options. They need to stand up now.”
Gabriel’s absence will also be felt in the opposition penalty area, where his aerial presence has been a constant threat from set pieces. However, Arsenal have several alternatives available, including summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié.
Arteta also revealed uncertainty over the fitness of defender Riccardo Calafiori, who withdrew from the Italy squad with a hip issue and has yet to train fully since returning.
“He missed the Italy games. He wasn’t available. He’s been carrying a few things. We had to bring him back. He hasn’t trained yet. We have another session tomorrow. Let’s see,” Arteta said.
Arsenal host Spurs at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with key questions hanging over their defensive line at a pivotal moment in their title push.
