Arsenal could be without key centre-back Gabriel Magalhães for next week’s Champions League quarter-final showdown against Real Madrid, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Tuesday. The Brazilian defender was forced off during the Gunners’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fulham with a hamstring issue, adding to an already worrying injury list for the club.
Gabriel limped off just 15 minutes into the Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium, dealing Arsenal another defensive setback in what has been a challenging season in terms of squad fitness. The situation worsened in the second half when Dutch full-back Jurrien Timber, who only recently returned from a long-term injury, also had to be withdrawn after feeling discomfort in his knee.
Following the game, Arteta expressed his concern over the growing list of unavailable players and confirmed that both Gabriel and Timber would undergo further assessments on Wednesday to determine the extent of their injuries.
“Gabby felt something in his hamstring; we don’t yet know how serious it is,” Arteta told reporters. “Jurrien was struggling from early in the game. He tried to continue, but at some point, he just couldn’t carry on.”
This latest injury crisis comes at a critical point in Arsenal’s season, as they prepare for a crucial run of fixtures that could determine their hopes for silverware.
In addition to Gabriel and Timber’s injuries, Arsenal are already without several key defenders. Italian centre-back Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury while on international duty, while right-back Ben White remains sidelined after an injury-plagued season. Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign, leaving Arteta with limited options at the back.
Arteta admitted that this is one of the worst injury situations he has faced as a manager.
“We have four defensive injuries in a single week, which is very difficult to manage. Have I experienced something like this before? No… but it is what it is,” he said.
While defensive issues dominate the headlines, Arsenal’s attacking options have also been hit hard. German forward Kai Havertz and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus are both sidelined with hamstring and cruciate ligament injuries, respectively. With Arsenal still competing on multiple fronts, the lack of squad depth could have serious consequences.
Crucial Fixtures Ahead
Arsenal now turn their attention to an away trip to Everton on Saturday, a match they must win to maintain their Premier League title challenge. However, the real test comes just days later when they host Real Madrid at the Emirates on April 8 for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
With the Champions League widely considered their most realistic shot at silverware this season, Arteta will be hoping for a positive update on his injured players in the coming days. If Gabriel and Timber are ruled out, the Arsenal boss may be forced into a major defensive reshuffle against one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking sides.
As Arsenal fans await further updates, the growing injury crisis threatens to derail their ambitions in what has already been an intense and physically demanding season.
