Alarm bells at Arsenal: Gabriel injury casts doubt ahead of Crystal Palace clash
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 24.10.25. | 22:22
Arteta admits his defensive pillar is a major doubt as the Gunners face an anxious wait before Sunday's derby
Back to the relentless Wednesday-Saturday rhythm, injuries are piling up across England - and Arsenal are no exception.
Ahead of Sunday's London derby against Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta has admitted that one of his most indispensable players, Gabriel Magalhaes, is a major doubt.
The Brazilian centre-back, who broke Atletico Madrid's resistance with a goal in midweek Champions League action, was forced off just twenty minutes later after picking up a knock - and has not trained since.
"Big Gabi had to come off against Atletico, and he hasn’t trained since then," Arteta revealed at his press conference. "We'll see how things evolve in the next 24 hours and whether he can be available for the weekend."
Words that instantly set off alarm bells among Gunners fans - and with good reason. Gabriel has featured in all 12 matches this season across competitions, confirming once again his status as one of the true pillars of Arteta's project.
Not only is he vital defensively, but also a constant threat in attack, particularly from set-pieces - an area that has become one of Arsenal's most lethal weapons. Since joining in 2020, Gabriel has scored 22 goals, more than any other centre-back in Europe's top five leagues. His absence would seriously blunt the team’s edge on corners and free kicks.
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From a purely defensive perspective, Arteta does have options. The club spent the past two summers building depth precisely to avoid crises like this. Should Gabriel miss out, the Spanish coach could partner William Saliba with Riccardo Calafiori, Cristian Mosquera, or Piero Hincapie - though the latter has played just a single minute since arriving.
And yet, one can never fully trust Arteta's injury drama. More than once, a "doubtful" player has miraculously appeared in the starting XI days later.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 9
Friday
Leeds - West Ham IN PROGRESS
Saturday
17.00: (1.40) Chelsea (4.60) Sunderland (8.00)
17.00: (1.65) Newcastle (3.70) Fulham (5.60)
19.30: (2.00) Manchester Utd. (3.50) Brighton (3.70)
22.00: (4.20) Brentford (4.30) Liverpool (1.75)
Sunday
17.00: (1.42) Arsenal (4.50) Crystal Palace (7.75)
17.00: (4.40) Aston Villa (3.50) Manchester City (1.85)
17.00: (1.75) Bournemouth (3.90) Nottingham Forest (4.50)
17.00: (2.00) Wolverhampton (3.35) Burnley (4.00)
19.30: (2.40) Everton (3.35) Tottenham (2.95)
***odds are subject to change***
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