Arsenal have suffered a concerning injury setback just as the Premier League prepares to resume next week. The timing could not be much worse for Mikel Arteta’s squad, who return to domestic competition with one of the most emotionally charged fixtures of the season: the North London Derby. Tottenham Hotspur will make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a showdown that always carries major weight for both sets of supporters, regardless of the table. This year, though, Arsenal enter the clash in particularly strong form—yet suddenly find themselves sweating over the fitness of a key defensive figure.
Arteta’s side currently sit at the top of the league standings after a strong start that has seen them win eight of their opening 11 matches, collecting an impressive 26 points. Their defensive record has been especially remarkable, with the Gunners conceding just five goals so far—making their back line one of the most reliable in the competition. Much of that stability has come from the partnership between centre-backs Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba, a duo that has arguably been one of the best in Europe this season. But concerns are growing that Arsenal may now be forced to break up that pairing for the derby.
Those fears stem from a significant blow sustained during the international break. Gabriel, who has been almost ever-present under Arteta, sparked alarm after appearing to pick up an injury while representing Brazil. The defender was involved in a friendly against Senegal on Saturday—a fixture that, interestingly, took place at Arsenal’s own Emirates Stadium. Playing on familiar turf, Gabriel looked comfortable until a worrying moment midway through the second half when he suddenly pulled up and signalled discomfort.
Although the exact nature of the issue remains unclear, Gabriel was seen clutching the upper part of his right leg, raising suspicions of a potential groin problem. Moments later, medical staff assessed him on the pitch before he was substituted, with Wesley coming on in his place. Brazil went on to secure a 2–0 victory, but the sight of Gabriel limping off and needing prolonged treatment left Arsenal supporters deeply uneasy.
As he made his way to the bench, Gabriel appeared visibly uncomfortable, further fuelling concern that this may not be a minor knock. For Arsenal, losing him at this particular moment would be a significant setback. The 27-year-old has been instrumental in the club’s defensive solidity, and his chemistry with Saliba is widely viewed as one of the foundations of Arteta’s tactical structure. Removing such a key piece right before a derby—especially one against a high-scoring Tottenham side—creates a level of uncertainty the manager would surely prefer to avoid.
Compounding the issue is the fact that Arsenal have already dealt with several international-break scares. Only recently, Riccardo Calafiori was withdrawn from Italy’s squad due to concerns over his fitness, adding to the sense that Arteta’s defensive options could be thinned at the worst possible time. Although Arsenal have depth, the potential absence of Gabriel would require a reshuffle that might impact their ability to maintain the exceptional defensive record they’ve built so far.
Despite this unwelcome development, there was at least some positive news for other Premier League clubs watching the Brazil match. Chelsea and Manchester United will have been pleased to see Estevão and Casemiro each get on the scoresheet, securing Brazil’s comfortable win over Senegal. But for Arsenal, that bright note does little to offset the anxiety surrounding Gabriel’s condition ahead of one of the marquee fixtures of the season.
With the Premier League set to return in just a matter of days, Arsenal now face an anxious wait for medical updates. The club will be hoping that the injury proves to be minor and that Gabriel can recover in time for Sunday’s showdown. For now, though, the Gunners are left to prepare for the derby under a cloud of uncertainty—one that threatens to disrupt their momentum at a crucial moment in their title push.
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