Arsenal have confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhães will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury—dealing a significant blow to Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Brazilian centre-back sustained the injury early in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday and was forced off the pitch, visibly limping.
“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days and will immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim of returning in time for the start of next season,” the club said in an official statement.
Currently trailing league leaders Liverpool by 12 points with eight matches left, Arsenal are also preparing to host Real Madrid next week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
Gabriel has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence this season, forming a formidable partnership with William Saliba. Together, they’ve contributed to the Gunners having the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 25 goals in 30 matches.
Alongside goalkeeper David Raya, Gabriel and Saliba have logged the most minutes of any Arsenal players across all competitions this campaign. In addition to his defensive contributions, Gabriel has also made an impact in attack, scoring five goals from set-pieces.
His absence marks yet another setback in a growing list of injuries for Arsenal.
He becomes the third player to suffer a serious hamstring issue, following Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, both of whom required surgery.
The Gunners are already without defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Jurrien Timber also limped off against Fulham with a suspected knee injury.
“You can imagine—we’ve lost four players in the defensive line in one week,” Arteta said post-match. “But we still have another four who are ready and willing to step up.”
Earlier in the season, strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were also ruled out with long-term injuries, compounding Arsenal’s fitness challenges as they head into a crucial stretch of the campaign.
Impact of Gabriel’s Injury on Arsenal
Gabriel’s injury could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal. With the club chasing silverware both domestically and in Europe, losing their most consistent defender is a major setback.
His strong aerial presence, aggressive tackling, and leadership at the back have been vital to Arsenal’s success this season. His understanding with Saliba has been the backbone of Arteta’s defensive system, and without him, the backline could face serious disruption.
Tactically, his absence may force Arteta to shuffle his defensive options—possibly deploying less experienced or out-of-position players in high-stakes fixtures, including the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. This not only affects Arsenal’s defensive solidity but also their ability to build from the back under pressure.
Moreover, Gabriel’s threat on set-pieces has yielded key goals this season—his five goals make him one of the club’s top-scoring defenders. Losing that additional attacking edge could prove costly in tight games where fine margins matter.
With several other key players sidelined, Gabriel’s absence places even more pressure on the remaining core, especially Saliba and Raya, to maintain composure and consistency through what could be a season-defining period.
