Arsenal’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday night came at a cost, with Gabriel Magalhaes forced off the pitch due to injury.
The Gunners’ win kept them in the hunt behind league leaders Liverpool, who stretched their advantage to 12 points with a 1-0 triumph over Everton in the Merseyside derby a day later.
However, with the Premier League title slipping out of reach, Arsenal have shifted their focus to the Champions League, where they face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals over the next fortnight.
Gabriel’s injury, sustained during the Fulham match, has cast a shadow over their preparations. The Brazilian centre-back is almost certain to miss the first leg against Real Madrid next week, leaving fans and manager Mikel Arteta anxious about his recovery timeline.
Speaking after the game, Arteta admitted his concern, saying, “Worried because he never wants to come off and he had to. He’s not very sure how big it is or what it is exactly, but he felt he couldn’t continue.”
When pressed on whether Gabriel would be fit to face the Spanish giants, Arteta remained cautious. “Depends, there’s a week there, but with the way he is normally… difficult,” he said.
Adding to the uncertainty, Gabriel’s wife, Gabrielle Figueiredo, provided a fresh update on his condition.
Speaking at the Married to the Game screening on Wednesday night, she revealed the emotional toll of the setback. “It’s difficult. The perfect example is now, because he got injured yesterday,” she said.
“That’s why he’s not here with me today. He would love to be here. I would love to be here with him. Yesterday we got the news he got injured, and now he is with the doctor having scans. This is the real life, and we never expected anything like this.”
The injury blow has sparked concern among Arsenal supporters, with the club’s official X account posting an update on Thursday confirming Gabriel had undergone scans, though no specific return date was provided.
Arteta, reflecting on the broader impact, highlighted the team’s resilience amid a season plagued by absences. “The good thing is that it’s been like this the whole season,” he said. “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.”
Arsenal now face a race against time to get their defensive linchpin back for the crucial second leg against Real Madrid. With the Gunners’ Champions League dreams hanging in the balance, all eyes are on Gabriel’s recovery as they prepare to take on one of Europe’s heavyweights.
