Gabriel forced off injured in Arsenal disaster as expression speaks volumes
Premier League leaders Arsenal have been handed a major injury worry with Gabriel Magalhaes forced off with an injury while in action for Brazil.
The defender was named in the starting XI for Carlo Ancelotti's side as they took on Senegal in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium. With Brazil leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Estevao and Casemiro, Gabriel went down just after the hour mark.
Images show the Arsenal defender walking off the pitch with the Brazil medical team. He pulled his shirt up to his head and then clutched his left groin, indicating the problem to the staff.
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The injury will be a worry to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who has several injury concerns ahead of the return of the Premier League next weekend. The Gunners take on rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday, November 23 at the Emirates Stadium.
Striker Viktor Gyokeres, winger Noni Madueke, forward Gabriel Martinelli and midfielder Martin Odegaard are all major doubts for the match. They have been handed another blow with it revealed that full-back Riccardo Calafiori has returned to Arsenal from the Italy camp due to injury.
An injury to Gabriel will be another big blow to the side. The defender has been a key part of the team who kept seven clean sheets in a row.
That run was broken in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Sunderland. A late equaliser from the Black Cats meant that Arsenal had to settle for a point.
Despite the minor disappointment, the Gunners remain top of the Premier League table. They have picked up 26 points from their opening 11 games.
That leaves them four points ahead of nearest rivals Manchester City on 22 points. Reigning champions Liverpool are currently in eighth place in the table, having picked up 18 points from their opening 11 games.
Following the game against Sunderland, Arteta delivered an honest verdict on his team's performance. "Obviously, the last feeling is disappointment and frustration because we wanted the three points," he said.
"We have to navigate through a really tough game. We knew that, it was very disruptive. We have to deal with situations, obviously, that are difficult to deal with.
"They do it really well and we conceded a goal that is not in our standards. But after that, I think the team reacted really well, showed a lot of personality and courage. They scored the first goal, they scored the second goal and we totally dominated the game.
"You have to rely on defending the box when they start to commit six or seven players there. It can be from a direct play, it can be from a throw-in, it can be from any situation. We can defend the action better, and today we haven't done it; we conceded the goal.
"And in the last minutes we have another massive chance with Ricky and Mikel to win, which I think we deserve to do. But it didn't happen, but I think it shows what we've done in the last ten games.
"Winning them in the manner that we've done it, with clean sheets, missing seven players in the front line. So it shows you how difficult it is."