Arsenal news: Gabriel injury 'length' revealed ahead of winter schedule

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes could be set for A lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury during the international break. 

Gabriel appeared to pick up a groin injury during Brazil's 2-0 win over Senegal, and after receiving several treatments, he was substituted in the 65th minute.  

Brazil confirmed that Gabriel has sustained a thigh injury in his right leg and will not take part in the friendly against Tunisia. 

According to a report from The Athletic, Gabriel is set for further tests to discover the full extent of the injury, and he could be out for one or two months. 

Gabriel injury - huge blow for Arsenal 

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The Brazilian defender is arguably one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, and losing him for a long period will come as a big blow for Mikel Arteta. 

Gabriel has scored two goals and provided three assists in 17 matches across all competitions this season while playing a pivotal role in Arsenal's watertight defence, which has conceded just five goals in the Premier League so far.

The news comes ahead of a busy period for Arsenal, who will play 14 games in the next eight weeks. 

After the international break, the Gunners face north London club Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, followed by a mouth-watering Champions League clash against Bayern Munich three days later, and then they face London rivals Chelsea. 

How will Arsenal cope without Gabriel? 

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Mikel Arteta will be deeply concerned with the growing injury list, as he is already missing several top players, including Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal have more depth in their squad than before, and they have plenty of options to replace the Brazilian, and one of them is Cristhian Mosquera.

However, Mosquera is naturally right-sided, and therefore Arteta might turn to Riccardo Calafiori to partner alongside William Saliba. 

Calafiori has excelled in the left-back role this season, and changing his position could bring unnecessary complications, so Piero Hincapie, the on-loan Ecuador international, could be another solution.