90min

Arsenal learn extent of Gabriel injury suffered against Liverpool

  • Gabriel picked up an injury against Liverpool on Sunday
  • Brazilian underwent tests on knee and ankle joints
  • Arsenal to play four times before November international break

By Jamie Spencer

Gabriel was forced off against Liverpool
Gabriel was forced off against Liverpool / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
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Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is reported to have avoided serious injury after being unable to continue in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Premier League title rivals Liverpool.

The Gunners, who were already without William Saliba due to a one-game suspension from his red card against Bournemouth, lost Gabriel nine minutes into the second half at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta explained immediately after the final whistle it was because the Brazilian "could not run", with the club initially unsure whether it was a knee joint or ankle problem.

The Times has since reported that tests on both have revealed no serious damage, although he is not expected to feature against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup this week. Arsenal are then due to face Newcastle United, Inter and Chelsea before the November international break, with no exact timeframe for Gabriel's return known at this stage.

Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel is not expected to feature in the Carabao Cup this week / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Prior to the weekend's game, Gabriel had played every minute this season across the Premier League and Champions League. He was previously an ever-present in the league during 2022/23 and hasn't actually missed any games through injury for over three years since August 2021.

In the intervening years he has become one of the best centre-backs in England's top-flight, developing a partnership with Saliba that gave Arsenal the competition's meanest defence in 2023/24.

Unfortunately for Arteta, summer signing Riccardo Calafiori is already sidelined through injury, while Jurrien Timber, who can play at centre-back, suffered cramp against Liverpool and had to be withdrawn following a previous three-game absence.

Jakub Kiwior replaced Gabriel against Liverpool and it could be that the Poland international does so from the start against Preston. Arteta has options on the side, with Ben White starting in place of Saliba at the weekend. He could keep that place to give the Frenchman more time off.

Kiwior started with Calafiori in the previous round against Bolton Wanderers, with Gabriel only appearing off the bench due to an injury to left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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