Arsenal’s Gabriel Set to Miss Key Fixtures After Thigh Injury
LONDON – Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães is expected to be out for a minimum of four weeks after sustaining a thigh injury while on international duty with Brazil, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old center-back suffered the muscle problem during the second half of Brazil’s friendly against Senegal on Saturday. Arsenal’s medical team is continuing further assessment, but early indications suggest an absence of at least one month, with the timeline potentially extending depending on his recovery response.
Gabriel has been a central figure in Mikel Arteta’s defensive structure this season, starting every Premier League and Champions League match to date. Arsenal holds the league’s best defensive record—five goals conceded and seven clean sheets across 11 games—with the Brazilian’s aerial dominance, recovery pace and ball-playing composure central to that success. He has also contributed two goals and three assists in all competitions.
His enforced spell on the sidelines means he will miss a series of crucial fixtures, including Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham, next week’s Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich, and the upcoming visit to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Arteta retains several options to cover the left-sided center-back role, notably Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera. Riccardo Calafiori, another alternative, withdrew from Italy’s camp earlier this week due to a minor issue. “He could have played, perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said.
Gabriel’s absence marks a significant setback for Arsenal as they attempt to maintain momentum in both domestic and European competition. The club will hope for a swift recovery from one of their most consistent performers during a demanding phase of the season.