Injury Concerns for Arsenal: Gabriel’s Potential Absence Looms

Gabriel was substituted just an hour into Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Senegal at Emirates Stadium last weekend, prompting immediate concern among Arsenal supporters. Following a period of anxious waiting, The Athletic reported that further examinations of his right thigh will be conducted. There are fears he could be sidelined for up to two months, potentially missing the remainder of the calendar year and not returning until late January. The optimist’s scenario would see Gabriel out for just one month, allowing for a return before Christmas.

His injury adds to an already lengthy Arsenal injury list, which included Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus prior to the international break. Although no outcomes are guaranteed, Manager Mikel Arteta mentioned that several of these players might return after the break, specifically Gyökeres, Havertz, Martinelli, and Madueke. Ødegaard is expected to be unavailable until early December, while Jesus is nearing the end of his long-term ACL rehabilitation and is on track to return in January.

This situation highlights Arsenal’s depth and determination, which has been strengthened by three seasons of close second-place finishes in the Premier League. Despite dealing with an ongoing injury crisis, the team has climbed to the top of the table, opening a four-point lead over a resurgent Manchester City.

If Gabriel is indeed out for two months, he could miss 14 to 15 matches across various competitions, depending on the exact timing of his return. Arsenal will begin this challenging stretch by hosting Tottenham Hotspur for the first north London derby of the season on Sunday, followed by a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. They will then travel to west London to face Chelsea, along with further Premier League clashes against Brentford and Aston Villa.

From December 10 to Christmas, the Gunners will contend with Club Brugge, Wolverhampton, Everton, and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace, before facing Brighton and Aston Villa again before the end of the year. Arsenal will kick off the New Year with league matches against Bournemouth and Liverpool, followed by an FA Cup third-round tie against an opponent yet to be determined. Fans hope that by January 17, when they visit Nottingham Forest, Gabriel will be close to returning.

For at least a month, Arsenal will need to find a partner for William Saliba in central defense. There are several options available. Gabriel typically plays as the left-sided center-back, so a natural replacement would be Riccardo Calafiori, who has excelled at left-back this season, although this would necessitate filling two positions in Arteta’s preferred back four. This shift could provide Myles Lewis-Skelly with more playing time, which is crucial if he hopes to be included in England’s World Cup squad.

Another left-sided option is summer signing Piero Hincapie, who has had a slow start at Arsenal but has shown his quality as a defender during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.

Other candidates could include Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, and Ben White, although using right-sided players on the left may disrupt the balance of the defense or require Saliba to adjust from his favored position.