Yahoo Sports Arsenal handed injury boost as Gabriel’s knee scare proves minor
Arsenal have been given a boost after tests revealed that centre back Gabriel Magalhães’ knee and ankle injuries are “not serious”, following concerns raised during the 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday.
That’s according to The Times, who report that the defender is not expected to be sidelined for long.
![Injury boost for Gabriel and Arsenal Gary Jacob Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta received a boost with the news that centre back Gabriel should not be sidelined for long after tests on his knee and ankle revealed his injury was not serious. Gabriel underwent tests after he was substituted after 54 minutes of the 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. He tried to carry on playing following treatment on his knee after being pushed by Darwin Núñez, the Liverpool forward. Gabriel is not expected to play away to Preston North End in the Carabao Cup tomorrow night and it is not clear if he will return for the match away to Newcastle United in the league on Sunday. Arsenal then play Inter Milan in the Champions League a week today and Chelsea, also away, four days later, before the international break. They are without Riccardo Calafiori, a centre back who can play at left back, through a knee injury suffered in the 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League last week. Jurrien Timber, a versatile defender, went off suffering from cramp on Sunday after returning from a muscle injury following nine months sidelined by a knee injury. Arteta has played down hopes that midfielder Martin Odegaard could be involved against Preston after missing ten matches with an ankle injury suffered last month. Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool captain, will not face retrospective action over kicking Kai Havertz off the ball during the match. The defender, whose header made it 1-1, said people underestimated how quickly Arne Slot would settle as Liverpool head coach. Liverpool are four points clear of Arsenal and one behind Manchester City at the top. “At the start of the season when a new manager is coming in nobody thinks about how good it could go,” Van Dijk said. “The results have been outstanding. The games we have played so far, we have shown amazing football, defending and attacking, but there are also moments that we have to improve and we all know that and that is the focus on a daily basis before and after games. There are many things we can analyse, good things but also the less good things, and that is the focus we have.” Arteta was unhappy that his side did not capitalise on the leads given to them by Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino in the first half against Liverpool. Van Dijk levelled for the visitors. “It should’ve been a bigger score in the first half, they came out in the second half and we didn’t have courage,” Arteta said. “You don’t want to be in that position [five points behind City].”](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_GFG10yAuUvWNSkpA5s.zw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk4NA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/daily_cannon_articles_231/a9eccd0faf00fb06216476a12d44a025)
Gabriel underwent medical assessments after being forced off in the 54th minute of the match, having initially attempted to continue playing following a clash with Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez.
The Brazilian centre back is likely to miss the Carabao Cup fixture against Preston North End but could return soon, potentially in time for key upcoming clashes against Newcastle United and Inter Milan.
Arsenal will be without Riccardo Calafiori, who is sidelined due to a knee injury picked up during the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk, while Jurrien Timber was substituted after cramping up on Sunday, as he continues his return from a long-term knee injury.
Midfielder Martin Ødegaard is also unlikely to feature in the near future after missing 10 matches with an ankle problem, but there was good news on his recovery, too.
With Arsenal facing a packed fixture list, including upcoming games against Inter Milan and Chelsea before the international break, Mikel Arteta will be eager to have Gabriel back as soon as possible.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will avoid disciplinary action after Virgil van Dijk was seen kicking Kai Havertz twice off the ball during Sunday’s match.
