Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he is uncertain about the severity of Gabriel's injury after the Arsenal defender was forced off during Brazil's friendly against Senegal on Saturday. The centre-back's fitness is now a major concern for the Gunners ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham next weekend.
Ancelotti told football.london: "Bad? I don’t know, he had a problem on his adductor the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed, when players have an injury I hope they can recover well and soon." Gabriel's afternoon ended early with Brazil leading 2-0, thanks to goals from Chelsea's Estevao and Manchester United's Casemiro.
Arsenal also received a separate injury blow as Riccardo Calafiori returned early from Italy duty, facing a race against time to be fit for the derby. The Gunners are already without captain Martin Odegaard, while Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli have been sidelined, though at least one could return against Spurs.
Gabriel has started all 11 Premier League games for Arsenal this season, scoring a dramatic winner at Newcastle and anchoring the league's stingiest defence. If he is unavailable, summer signing Piero Hincapie could make his first Premier League start, having featured as a left-sided centre-back in the Carabao Cup.
In the same match, Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr also suffered an injury early in the second half after a clash with Brazil's Matheus Cunha. Arsenal will hope for positive news on Gabriel as they prepare for the crucial derby clash.
