Arteta Reveals Gabriel's Injury Timeline as Arsenal Fans Fear Extended Star Defender Absence

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel Magalhães will be unavailable "for weeks" following an injury sustained during the November international fixtures.

Gabriel appeared to be struggling with discomfort during Brazil's 2–0 victory over Senegal, which was ironically held at Emirates Stadium, before being substituted in the second half. Early reports indicated the Brazilian defender might be absent for up to two months as Arsenal's schedule intensifies during the holiday season, though fans have been hoping for a quicker recovery.

The Gunners are scheduled to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the north London clash this weekend, face Bayern Munich in Champions League action, and meet Chelsea the week after, with Arteta essentially confirming Gabriel's unavailability for these fixtures while explaining when Arsenal expects clearer information about his potential comeback.

"Gabi unfortunately sustained an injury while on duty with the Brazil national team and he'll be absent for weeks," Arteta stated during his Friday media briefing. "We require another scan next Wednesday, and we'll have a much clearer timeline than what we currently possess.

"It's obviously a setback because he serves as our captain in our defensive line and, in my view, it's never welcome news."

Arsenal to Depend on Squad Depth During Busy Schedule

Arteta will probably turn to summer acquisitions Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera as Arsenal awaits an updated prognosis on Gabriel, providing both defenders opportunities to showcase their abilities after receiving limited playing time this campaign.

Hincapié, arriving on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, was initially hindered by a groin problem at the start of his time in north London, but the Ecuadorian has since bounced back to feature in four matches across all tournaments. Having played the complete 90 minutes in two international friendlies for Ecuador during November, Hincapié might earn the starting role against Spurs on Sunday.

Mosquera represents another alternative who joined from Valencia during the summer window. The 21-year-old Spanish defender has previously filled in for William Saliba, though his strengths lie on the right side of a central defensive partnership—increasing the likelihood that Hincapié will cover for Gabriel given his natural left-footed preference.

Riccardo Calafiori could also be considered as an option to move inward from left-back, although his early departure from Italy's November squad has raised questions about his fitness for Sunday. Arteta confirmed Calafiori hasn't yet trained with the squad, but theoretically he could feature in central defense—a role where he performed excellently for his nation at Euro 2024—which would enable Myles Lewis-Skelly to return to the lineup at fullback.

Arsenal Injury List for North London Derby