Mikel Arteta sweats as Arsenal key player gets injury during international break

Arsenal‘s Mikel Arteta is facing a fresh challenge as the Gunners brace for potential injury woes with defender Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian star suffered a concerning setback while representing his national team, raising concerns among Arsenal faithful.

Gabriel had an impressive outing during Brazil’s commanding 5-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.

This performance was significant for the 25-year-old, who had been omitted from the World Cup squad last year under former boss Tite.

Eager to prove his worth to caretaker head coach Fernando Diniz, Gabriel’s aspirations faced a sudden twist.

In the 85th minute of the match against Bolivia, Gabriel’s injury scare unfolded. The sight of the defender receiving treatment and subsequently being substituted alarmed Arsenal fans.

Cameras captured Gabriel seated in the dugout, surrounded by physios, as they tended to his right leg. Observers noted that ice was being applied to his right knee, raising concerns of yet another defensive injury crisis for Arteta’s side.

Arsenal has already grappled with the absence of Thomas Partey, who is sidelined due to a long-term groin injury. Partey’s versatility saw him begin the season as a right-back, creating opportunities for Ben White and William Saliba to start as center-backs.

However, with Partey’s injury, Gabriel was given the chance to reclaim his role alongside Saliba, while White was shifted to the right side of the back four.

Gabriel, who made substitute appearances in Arsenal’s first two Premier League games, started in the other two fixtures.

His early-season form had been marred by rumors of a potential transfer to Saudi club Al-Ittihad, which had cast a shadow over his campaign’s beginning.

Back on August 26, Arteta spoke about Gabriel’s absence from the starting lineup and emphasized the importance of competition within the squad. He stated, “Gabi will play a lot of games, I’m sure and it’s about bringing the competition high and try to make the team play better, better, better and better and be more dominant and win more games. That’s the purpose of all of us.”

When questioned if he had communicated the reasons for Gabriel’s exclusion to the player, Arteta confirmed, “Yeah, especially someone that has played a lot of minutes and games with us in the last year. I don’t know if he understands but I told him. I think he understands the reason, whether he agrees or not, that’s something different. But the best way to do it is when you play, just tell me how blind I’m wrong, I am.”

Gabriel’s recent injury scare, coupled with the ongoing absence of Partey, highlights the fragility of Arsenal’s defensive lineup.

Mikel Arteta and his team will now closely monitor Gabriel’s condition and hope for a swift recovery, as the Premier League campaign continues to present challenges and uncertainties.

As Arsenal navigates these early-season hurdles, the spotlight remains on their ability to maintain defensive stability while striving for consistent performances.

The coming weeks will undoubtedly test the depth and resilience of the squad, and the Gunners’ faithful will anxiously await updates on Gabriel’s fitness and his potential return to action.