Gabriel Magalhaes injury update — Arsenal center back out as Real Madrid tie looms

Arsenal got one star back in the fold on Tuesday, but have they lost another in center back Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian defender pulled up during a spring in the first 15 minutes of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Fulham on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium and stayed down for some time.

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As recently-returned Bukayo Saka watched from the bench, Gabriel worked with trainers for some time before limping off the pitch in the 16th minute. Polish back Jakub Kiwior took Gabriel’s place alongside William Saliba.

Arsenal go to Everton at the weekend before Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg at home to Real Madrid. The Gunners will return to the Premier League to host Brentford before the second leg at the Bernabeu on April 16. But defensive injuries are piling up with Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White also out, plus Jurrien Timber suffering a knee injury in the win against Fulham.

Gabriel injury update from Mikel Arteta

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked about Gabriel Magalhaes’ exit from the pitch.

“They are two players in this team that never want to come off. Gabi felt something in his hamstring, we don’t know how big that is and with Jurrien as well, he was already struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue and at some point he couldn’t, so, that’s the downside to it,” Arteta said.

Arteta was asked about potentially missing Timber and Gabriel, plus White and Timber, for some huge games coming up.

“The good thing is that it’s been like this the whole season. You see Martinelli today, you say we’re missing three months. You see Bukayo, four months. Jesus, almost the whole season. How we have managed to be where we are with all those injuries. Ben White hasn’t participated at all this season, it’s what it is. We want it so much that we’re going to give it a real go and we are very excited for next week,” Arteta said. “You can imagine, we’ve lost four players in the defensive line in one week - Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabi Magalhaes. We have still another four, that are so willing that they will do their job.”

He was also asked about Jurrien Timber picking up a knee injury before coming off late: “He was sore yesterday already, so we’ll have to see.”