Arsenal face a potential defensive crisis as Gabriel Magalhães is expected to be sidelined for at least a month due to a thigh injury sustained on international duty. The Brazil centre-back limped off during his country’s 2-0 friendly win against Senegal and returned to Arsenal for further evaluation after tests confirmed a muscle injury in his right thigh.
The timing of the injury could not be worse for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are currently leading the Premier League with a four-point advantage over Manchester City. Gabriel has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s defence, playing every minute of the league campaign so far. His absence would leave the Gunners without a key figure in a backline that has conceded just five goals in 11 games and maintained eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions prior to the 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
With the north London derby against Tottenham looming, followed by a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, Arsenal may need to rely on new signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié to fill the gap. Viktor Gyökeres, who missed Arsenal’s last two matches before the international break due to a hamstring injury, is also uncertain for the upcoming fixtures.
Gabriel’s injury threatens to rule him out of several high-profile matches, including Premier League games against Chelsea, Brentford, and Aston Villa, as well as the Champions League trip to Club Brugge on December 10. Arsenal will also face Wolves at home before traveling to Everton later in December, which could stretch their defensive resources even further.
The Gunners have already been hit by other absences, with captain Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli unavailable. Last season, Arsenal’s title challenge suffered due to a string of injuries, prompting the club to spend over £250 million on reinforcements during the summer. With Gabriel now potentially missing a crucial month, Arteta’s squad depth will once again be tested as they aim to maintain their strong start in both domestic and European competitions.
