Arsenal have suffered another injury blow ahead of their trip to Everton.
As per football.london, the Gunners could be without Gabriel Magalhaes following his appearance for Brazil overnight.
Gabriel linked up with the South American side this week and started alongside Marquinhos as they thrashed Bolivia 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
Despite Brazil enjoying victory, Mikel Arteta will have been watching on with concern when his defender was taken off with only five minutes to go and was spotted holding ice on his thigh as he took his place on the bench.
Physical therapy doctor, Dr. Rajpal Brar, updated fans on Gabriel’s injury via Twitter. He wrote: “Thigh issue for Arsenal CB Gabriel Magalhaes. Unsure if it’s contact related or a muscle pull.”
However, he later provided another update that said: “Based on what multiple people have told me, sounds contact related. Overall good news.”
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It’s unclear how serious this is for Gabriel and whether it will affect Everton’s meeting with Arsenal next weekend, though Brazil still have another match against Peru before he visits Goodison Park.
Could Arsenal be forced to play a similar defence to the one that conceded twice to Fulham?
Gabriel’s potential absence would add to the Gunners’ injury worries, with Jurrien Timber also missing from their backline. Thomas Partey will also be sidelined after picking up an injury in training.
Arsenal fans were eager to see Gabriel back in the team after he was left out for their early games, with Ben White previously taking more of a central role.
Arteta could bring Jakub Kiwior in place of Gabriel, or Takehiro Tomiyasu could take White’s place at right-back.
Everton will need to put on an exceptional performance to take all three points next weekend, though Gabriel’s injury could mean a more promising afternoon for the likes of Beto, Arnaut Danjuma and Dwight McNeil.