Arsenal will be without defender Gabriel Magalhaes for the remainder of the Premier League season. The Brazil international was forced off early on in the first half of Tuesday’s victory over Fulham with a hamstring problem.
The Gunners have now confirmed that Gabriel needs surgery on the problem in a hammer blow to their Premier League title chances and hopes of reaching the last four of the Champions League, with Real Madrid lying in wait in the quarter finals.
Liverpool extended its lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points by beating Everton on Wednesday, with Arsenal having a mountain to climb to finish top of the pile. And that task has been made harder with the loss of arguably its standout player this season.
A statement from the Gunners read: “Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery.
“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season. Everyone at the club will be fully focused on supporting Gabi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.
Mikel Arteta has a defensive crisis to deal with ahead of this weekend’s visit to Everton, which comes days before the first leg against Real Madrid. Jurrien Timber was also forced off against Fulham while Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori both have knee problems.
Jakub Kiwior deputized for Gabriel in midweek while Thomas Partey may again be forced to play at right back at Goodison Park.
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Speaking after the win over Fulham, Arteta said: “You can imagine, we’ve lost four players in the defensive line in one week – Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien, and Gabi Magalhaes. We still have another four who are so willing that they will do their job.
“The good thing with Jakub is that he’s been very reliable. Every time we need him he’s always there, he’s available and he does his job. We ask him to play as a left centre-back, as a right centre-back, as a left full-back.
“If you ask the dressing room how much they want to play the next two games and the Real Madrid game, believe me, everybody wants to be on that pitch.”
