Arsenal’s hopes of having their key players return unharmed from the international break were dashed as injury concerns loomed large once again.
During the initial month of the season, the Gunners received a setback with Thomas Partey’s injury, ruling him out for several weeks due to a groin issue after missing the 3-1 victory against Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta’s injury worries escalated as Gabriel Magalhaes featured for Brazil against Bolivia, partnering with Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos in their 2026 World Cup qualifier, which ended in a resounding 5-1 victory for Brazil.
However, Arsenal’s apprehension heightened when Gabriel was substituted in the 85th minute, seen with ice applied to his thigh during his national team debut.
Adding to their concerns, Gabriel endured a harrowing challenge from Bolivia’s Diego Ibanez in the fifth minute of the game.
Despite the painful incident, he soldiered on and played for an additional 80 minutes. Dr. Rajpal Brar, a physical therapy specialist, initially assessed the injury as a “thigh issue” but was uncertain if it resulted from contact or a muscle pull.
In a subsequent update, Dr. Brar indicated that it appeared to be contact-related, offering a glimmer of hope for Arsenal and Arteta.
Arsenal is anxiously awaiting Gabriel’s return to London Colney as they prepare to face Everton at Goodison Park in the upcoming Premier League fixture. Meanwhile, Brazil has another match against Peru on Wednesday morning.
Should Gabriel’s participation in Brazil’s second qualifier proceed without complications, it would alleviate Arsenal’s concerns regarding his fitness, providing a welcome relief for the club.
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