Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed a significant defensive blow ahead of this weekend's crucial North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur, with key defender Gabriel Magalhães ruled out for several weeks.
Defensive Blow and Injury Updates
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta revealed that Gabriel sustained an injury while on international duty with Brazil. The centre-back is now scheduled for another scan next Wednesday, which will provide a clearer timeline for his return to the pitch.
The Gunners' injury concerns extend beyond Gabriel, with Arteta providing updates on several first-team players. He expressed hope that Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard might be available soon, though he remained cautious about making premature announcements.
Arteta explained that he and the medical staff have worked intensely during the international break, but final decisions on player involvement will only be made after the final training session before the derby.
Jesus Fitness and Eze Impact
There was positive news regarding Gabriel Jesus, with Arteta confirming the Brazilian striker is making excellent progress. "Gabriel Jesus has trained fully with the team for almost two weeks now following his injury," Arteta revealed.
While Jesus looks sharp in training, the club plans a cautious approach, intending to give him exposure in internal games to regain full match fitness before he is fully relied upon in competitive matches.
Arteta also spoke warmly about summer signing Eberechi Eze, expressing his pride that the England international chose Arsenal over other interested clubs - notably Tottenham. "It's a good sign that he chose us," Arteta said, adding that he believes there is still much more to come from the creative midfielder as he settles and builds better connections with his teammates.
North London Derby Expectations
Arteta didn't underestimate the significance of facing Tottenham, describing the North London Derby as a uniquely special and ferocious rivalry where both clubs aim to "conquer" that part of the city.
He views the immense passion and emotion from the home fans as a "superpower" that the team must harness with their own commitment on the field at Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal boss acknowledged that Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has instilled a clear, new identity in their squad and believes Spurs have truly earned their position in the league table. He particularly highlighted their impressive away record and stressed that Arsenal will need a top-level performance to win what he expects to be a very tough encounter.
With the Premier League leaders returning to action after the international break, this derby takes on added significance as Arteta's side look to maintain their position at the summit of English football.
