Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that centre-back Gabriel will be sidelined for “weeks” after sustaining an injury while on international duty with Brazil.
The 27-year-old was forced off during Brazil’s win over Senegal in the international break. Arteta described Gabriel’s absence as a “big blow”, with the defender now set to miss Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham.
The clash with Spurs marks the first of three crucial fixtures for Arsenal, who host German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday before travelling to Chelsea on November 30.
Arteta said: “Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the national team. He will be out for weeks. We need to have another scan next Wednesday. We will have the timeline much more clearly than we have at the moment.”
Gabriel has been an ever-present for Arsenal this season in a defence that has conceded just five Premier League goals.
Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera are both in contention to deputise for the Brazilian against Spurs.
“It’s clearly a blow,” Arteta added. “He’s our leader in the backline. To miss him is never a positive thing. The good thing is we have some very good options. They need to stand up now.”
Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Ødegaard have all been on Arsenal’s injury list in recent weeks. However, Arteta is hopeful of positive news about at least a couple of them before Sunday.
“We put a lot of energy during the international break, with all the medical staff, to try to bring them back as quickly as possible,” the Spaniard said.
“So tomorrow we have another training session to see how some of them are feeling — whether it’s too soon to bring them into this game or whether they can contribute. Tomorrow we’ll have more clarity.”
On his confidence about players returning, he added: “I am more optimistic than at Sunderland that they will be back. Now is the final stage.
There is contact around them and they are being pushed into things they haven’t done yet. I think they’re going to be with us soon. But I don’t know if Sunday is too soon.”
