DO: Arsenal centre-back Gabriel will miss 1-2 months due to injury

Hupu News on November 19 According to DO reports, Arsenal defender Gabriel is about to undergo further examination due to a right thigh muscle injury and is expected to be absent for one to two months.

The 27-year-old central defender was accidentally injured while playing for the Brazilian national team last weekend. In Brazil's 2-0 friendly win over Senegal (held at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium), he was replaced in the 65th minute after several minutes of treatment. When he left the field, he held his thigh and showed a look of pain.

The Brazilian team later confirmed that Gabriel had injured his right thigh and withdrew from training, missing Tuesday's friendly match against Tunisia in Lille, France. According to people familiar with the matter, preliminary examinations show that the players need to be sidelined for one to two months, but the specific injury still needs further testing to confirm.

This injury comes at a time when Arsenal’s schedule is intensive-the Gunners need to play at least 14 games in the next eight weeks. As the core of the team's defense, Gabriel has played in all Premier League games and four Champions League group matches this season. Since joining from Lille in 2020, he has scored 22 goals in 227 appearances for the club and extended his contract until 2029 this summer.

Arsenal has suffered injuries to many players this season, including Djekereis, Odegaard, Maduek and Martinelli. The team will face Tottenham in the north London derby this Sunday, three days later at the Emirates Stadium to face Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich, and an away game against Chelsea on November 30.

Gabriel's injury is a serious blow to Arsenal-the team will have to deal with 9 fierce battles in the next 31 days. The Brazilian center back is not only a pillar on both sides of the ball but also a leader in the dressing room. The only consolation is that the depth of the current Gunners lineup has reached its best level in recent years, especially the defense is well-stocked.

One solution might be to enable Moskra. The Spanish U21 international performed amazingly when replacing Saliba this season. However, the 21-year-old Mosquera is naturally accustomed to the right center back position. In order to maintain the balance of the right-footed center back combination, Arteta may consider Calafioli or Incapie.

In view of Calafiore's excellent condition at the left back position, moving him to the center may disrupt the existing system. Therefore, the loaned Ecuadorian international Incapie may become the most direct alternative. The Arsenal coaching staff firmly believes that the defensive rotation system composed of Incapier and Mosqueira is enough to cope with the challenge of Gabriel's absence.