Arsenal’s Gabriel was forced to leave the field due to a suspected hamstring injury during Tuesday’s match against Fulham, just a week before the Gunners face Real Madrid.
The Brazilian defender was replaced by Polish international Jakub Kiwior after only 16 minutes of play. This setback comes just seven days before Arsenal host Real at the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
BBC Radio Five Live commentator and former Premier League forward Glenn Murray remarked: “It feels as though Arsenal’s season has revolved around injuries. Just one major player missing after another. Watching Gabriel limp around the back of the goal it will be devastating for Mikel Arteta and his side going into the huge challenges against the Real Madrid.”
Further injury concerns arose when Jurrien Timber, Gabriel’s fellow defender, seemed to suffer a knee injury. However, the Dutch international was able to continue playing after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Despite these setbacks, there was some positive news for Arsenal with Bukayo Saka returning to the squad for the first time in 19 matches. The winger had been out for 101 days due to a hamstring injury he sustained during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace on December 21.
(Image: Premier League)
Mikel Arteta expressed his delight to Sky Sports about having a key player back in the fold: “Great to have him back, we missed him. He’s a very important player for us. He’s back, he’s ready. It was a hard decision to put him on the bench when a player like that is available, but I think it was the right decision for the first game back.”
However, he also noted the absence of defender Ben White from the squad: “He had a little niggle two days ago. Yesterday we tried, he wasn’t feeling right so we decided not to put him in the squad.”
