Arsenal’s new defensive ARMY is in for a serious test. Manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Gabriel will be unavailable for at least three weeks with a hamstring tear. The Brazilian center-back picked up the injury in Brazil’s 4-2 win over Senegal in an international friendly match earlier this week. Arteta called Gabriel’s absence a “blow,” especially as he has emerged this season as a key leader in the backline alongside William Saliba.
That’s a monumental task considering the stakes and the fact that Arsenal must now cope with Gabriel’s injury. He’ll miss the highly anticipated North London derby against Tottenham this Sunday. The loss of such a key player raises concerns about the team’s defensive stability as they prepare to face their local rivals.
Gabriel’s Injury Impact
Arteta detailed the severity of Gabriel’s condition, stating, “Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the national team. He will be out for weeks.” This announcement has without a doubt put Arsenal fans on edge about their side’s chances in future fixtures. Though Gabriel’s work can continue, his vision, guidance and experience will be deeply missed. He’s going to leave an enormous hole in our defensive organization and spirit.
Arsenal will hope for more from their depth pieces in Gabriel’s absence. The team has a wealth of depth to choose from, with Cristhian Mosquera playing alongside William Saliba in central defense among those possibilities. There are positive signs that Archie Gray is back in training and may provide supplementary support.
“It’s clearly a blow. It’s our leader in our backline. To miss him is never a positive thing. The good thing is we have some very good options. They need to stand up now.” – Mikel Arteta
Other Injury Updates
In further good news, but somewhat sad news for Arsenal fans, Gabriel wasn’t the only player to do well in similar fashion recently. With Mohammed Kudus now back to training, the squad’s attacking options have a nice depth and versatility. Additionally, Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have now trained and are available for selection too. Randal Kolo Muani is back training with the team, having recovered from a fractured jaw sustained in France’s contest with Senegal. Clad in protective gear, he rejoins the fray.
It isn’t all good news for Arsenal. Dominic Solanke is still recovering from minor ankle surgery and hasn’t played since August 23. Because of that, manager Frank is understandably protective over Solanke’s comeback. The Reds’ boss insists ensuring Solanke is 100% fit is key before the young striker resumes his competitive return.
“Dom is not ready yet. We are very aware that when we put him out there, we want to be as sure as we can that there will be no setback going forward. I am comfortable he will soon be ready.” – Frank
Preparing for the North London Derby
As Arsenal gears up for the crucial match against Tottenham, Arteta is keenly aware of the challenges posed by opponents known for their offensive prowess. His comments on Chelsea’s attacking prowess would lead one to think they have the best attack in the league by far. This assertion highlights the overall importance of a strong defensive plan for Arsenal as they try to hold back some of Tottenham’s danger men.
James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski continue to miss out for Tottenham and it could be a key to giving Arsenal the edge. Gabriel’s absence presents a massive challenge for Arteta’s team. Well, now they have to rely on their few remaining defensive players.
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