Arsenal suffered a major injury setback on Tuesday evening as talismanic centre-back Gabriel Magalhães was forced off just 15 minutes into their match against Fulham.
The Brazilian defender collapsed off the ball without any contact from an opponent or teammate, crumpling to the ground in visible pain. While Gabriel writhed in agony in his own half, Arsenal continued their attack, and tensions rose when Fulham refused to put the ball out of play after losing possession. Gabriel, clutching his hamstring, limped off in the 16th minute after the Gunners conceded a corner and he was finally given medical attention.
Arsenal had been boosted by Bukayo Saka’s return before the match, but they were also without another key figure in Ben White. The right-back, who had missed three months earlier in the season following knee surgery, was absent from the matchday squad. Arteta explained that White had picked up a minor niggle two days before the match, and after feeling discomfort the day before, it was decided not to include him in the squad.
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Riccardo Calafiori, another defender, was also missing due to an injury sustained while playing for Italy in March. The Italian defender twisted his knee awkwardly, and while Arteta confirmed Calafiori would be sidelined for a few weeks, he reassured that it wasn’t a long-term issue.
With the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid looming, Arsenal’s injury woes are compounded. The Gunners will host the 15-time European champions at the Emirates on April 8, just one week after Gabriel limped off the pitch. If the Brazilian’s injury is indeed a hamstring problem, it’s likely he will miss the first leg, and his availability for the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 16 remains uncertain.
