Gabriel Magalhaes was forced to withdraw at half-time in Arsenal’s Premier League clash with West Ham on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the fitness of Gabriel Magalhaes following the Gunners’ 5-2 victory over West Ham United. Gabriel, who scored Arsenal’s third goal in the match, was substituted early due to discomfort, raising concerns about his availability for future fixtures
During the match against West Ham, Gabriel was forced off the pitch in the 84th minute after feeling some discomfort. Arteta confirmed that the substitution was due to a potential injury rather than a tactical decision. The Brazilian defender has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s backline this season, making his potential absence a significant worry for the team.
Arteta addressed the media, stating, “We don’t know yet. We had to make the change because he was feeling some discomfort. We have another training session, and we will see how the boys are. A few of them weren’t able to train yesterday, but hopefully, they will be okay today. We will have to wait and see.”
With Gabriel’s fitness in doubt, Jakub Kiwior is the leading candidate to step in if Gabriel is unable to play. Both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are sidelined with knee injuries, adding to Arsenal’s defensive concerns. However, there is some positive news as Kieran Tierney could be set to join his first Premier League matchday squad of the season after making a comeback from injury in Lisbon.
As Arsenal prepares for their upcoming fixtures, the team will be closely monitoring Gabriel’s fitness. His presence in the defense has been crucial, and his potential absence could be a significant challenge for the Gunners. Arteta’s cautious approach indicates that the club is taking no chances with their key players ahead of important matches.
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