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Mikel Arteta expressed worry about Gabriel Magalhães after the center back was forced off during Saturday's surprising FA Cup loss due to a suspected thigh problem.
"I'm not sure, I think he felt something—I don't know exactly what it is," Arteta told reporters after the match when asked about the Brazilian's condition.
"We'll need to assess him. But, clearly, when a player asks to come off, it's never a good sign."
Arsenal will have a clearer picture of Gabriel's situation in the days ahead, though it could prove to be a major setback for the Gunners at this crucial point of the campaign.
Notably, Arsenal lost William Saliba to injury during the closing stages of 2022–23, which was a contributing factor to a late-season collapse that saw the Premier League title slip away to Manchester City.
Gabriel Out, Mosquera In
Despite being eliminated from the FA Cup—on top of their Carabao Cup final defeat last month—Arsenal still have two pieces of silverware to compete for this season. Both would be historic, as they chase a first Premier League crown in 22 years and a maiden Champions League title.
Gabriel's fitness for Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Sporting CP will remain uncertain until at least Arteta receives further information the day before the match.
Arsenal have a more favorable path to the final in the knockout rounds, having avoided Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid until a potential showpiece encounter. Sporting are the least formidable side remaining in the competition, with Barcelona or Atlético Madrid waiting in the semifinal should the Gunners progress.
Regardless of Gabriel's availability, there will be confidence heading into the Sporting fixture, though being without one of the world's top center backs against stronger opposition would be a genuine concern.
For however long Gabriel remains unavailable, the player most likely to step in is Cristhian Mosquera.
The Spaniard started against Southampton, with Saliba rested ahead of the trip to Lisbon. However, Gabriel's withdrawal meant Saliba was brought on from the bench to play the final 20 minutes regardless.
Arteta Reflects on Quadruple Pain
Arteta rejected the notion that the pressure of pursuing an unprecedented Quadruple had played any role in losing two of those trophies within just a few weeks of each other.
"No, and I don't want to make any excuses about the players that are missing or the players that are here with issues," the manager said. "That's not the case—let's look at ourselves in the mirror, accept the situation, and head to Portugal with a clear mind and look forward to it."
"I don't know [if it's a blessing in disguise]. We are out, so while we are out, we still feel that pain, but when that pain fades, we have to use the time we have in the best possible way to maximise every resource available to us and come back stronger."