Carlo Ancelotti could not give many details about Gabriel’s injury after the defender limped out of Brazil’s friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates, but it has now been confirmed as a thigh muscle problem.
The 27-year-old seemed to have a problem with his right thigh just before the hour and was replaced after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Speaking afterwards, the Brazil manager admitted he did not if the problem was serious. “Bad? I don’t know, he had a problem with his adductor. We are really sorry for this,” said Ancelotti.
It has since been confirmed that it is a muscular problem that will keep him out of Brazil’s game on Tuesday. He has left the Brazil camp to return to Arsenal.
According to The Athletic, the Brazilian Football Confederation said on Sunday: “Arsenal player Gabriel Magalhaes was re-evaluated this Sunday (16) and underwent imaging tests that revealed a muscle injury in his right knee.
“Therefore, the player will not be travelling with the team to the match against Túnez in Lille. No other player will be called up to replace him”
However, it seems that this is incorrect and the statement said “thigh” rather than knee, which would make more sense. The Athletic have now changed their version.
A muscle injury in the knee is an odd way to describe any sort of injury. It’s either the knee, or a muscle.
An adductor, which Ancelotti specifically referenced, is one of a group of muscles in the inner thigh, primarily the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis, that function to pull the legs toward the body’s midline (adduction) and stabilise the pelvis during movement. The adductors originate from the pelvis and attach along the femur, with some, like the gracilis, extending to the tibia just below the knee, and it seems likely this is where the problem lies.
Gabriel has been one of the constants in Arsenal’s defence this season and any spell on the sidelines would be a problem at both ends of the pitch for the Gunners.
The situation is compounded by Riccardo Calafiori’s hip problem, which has seen him withdraw from Italy duty and return to London for assessment.
Arsenal have already been stretched by injuries across the squad. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus have all been working their way back from various issues over recent weeks and months.
Norway coach Ståle Solbakken has also hinted that Odegaard is unlikely to return in time for the North London derby.
With Gabriel now awaiting further tests, Arsenal face the possibility of entering a crucial run of fixtures with a patched-up back line as well as a forward unit still missing many of its key components.
Good job Arsenal’s squad is so big, eh?