Injuries have really hurt Arsenal this season.
The Gunners had aspirations to win the Premier League title after finishing second in each of the last two campaigns. Many people thought this would be their year, but injuries have all but ruined their chances.
Martin Odegaard spent a couple of months on the sidelines early on in the campaign, while Bukayo Saka missed over three months after Christmas. To add to that, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz suffered season-ending injuries.
The latest to join that list was Gabriel Magalhaes, whose hamstring injury requires surgery, and he will be out until next season as well.
That is a big shame, especially as Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s medical team had gone to great lengths to protect him.
Mikel Arteta explains why he had a ‘big fight’ with Gabriel Magalhaes at Arsenal
Gabriel is one of Arsenal’s most important players.
The Brazil international has almost always played since he joined the club in 2020, and his improvement over the years has been spectacular.
When a player is so integral, it is tempting to play him every game, and Gabriel is always desperate to start for Arsenal as well.
Arteta has now revealed that the defender had a minor hamstring issue after a game against West Ham United back in November.
The doctors advised Arteta to leave Gabriel out, but the Brazilian was having none of that. He demanded to play each of the next three games, and Arteta has revealed that he had to have a ‘big fight’ to convince his number six to not play.
Arteta said, as relayed on HaytersTV: “For example, we had a situation with Gabi Magalhaes. During the West Ham game (in November), he felt something in his hamstring. We played three days later, six days later and nine days later.
“Three days later, he said he was ready to play, with a grade 1b. He said: ‘I’m not feeling anything, I want to play.’ Massive fight not to play him. Day six, (he says): ‘This one definitely I have to play.’ Everybody’s like: ‘There is still a chance of a risk to play.’ We decided after a big fight, don’t play him.
“Day nine, another game – ‘This one for sure!’ The doctor (said) ‘There is a slight risk, he can miss five, six, seven weeks if he has an injury after that.’ We decided not to play him. On day 12, he played.
“But, I was very tempted on day six to play him. If I would’ve played him on day six and he has the injury that he’s sustained now against Fulham and he misses four months, (cut throat gesture) I would be hammered.”
READ MORE: What Ian Wright really thinks about Jakub Kiwior replacing Gabriel Magalhaes vs Real Madrid
What happened in the three games Arteta refused to play Gabriel
Gabriel always wants to play, which is why it was extremely worrying to see him come off the pitch during Arsenal’s win over Fulham.
The Gunners’ worst fears came true, and they will have to find a way to deal with his absence over the next month and a bit.
But how did Arsenal fare when Arteta fought with Gabriel and kept him out of the side after his injury in November?
| Games Gabriel missed | Result |
| Arsenal vs Manchester United | Arsenal won 2-0 |
| Fulham vs Arsenal | 1-1 draw |
| Arsenal vs Monaco | Arsenal won 3-0 |
Two wins and a draw in three games is not bad at all, and it shows that Arsenal can cope with Gabriel not being available.
Jakub Kiwior started all of those games alongside William Saliba, and although the Pole isn’t on the Brazilian’s level, he is not a bad defender by any means.
It will be interesting to see how Kiwior will fare in the coming weeks and months.
