Arsenal hope starter will make injury comeback vs Everton

Gabriel Magalhaes is close to a return to action after his hamstring injury, and he could be available for Arsenal against Everton on Saturday.

Sami Mokbel reports for the Daily Mail that Arsenal are hoping Gabriel Magalhaes will be fit to face Everton on Saturday after injury.

Mokbel writes that whilst Gabriel has been out for the last three games with a hamstring problem, he’s now close to returning.

Arsenal opted not to risk him on Wednesday night, not even selecting him for the bench, but he was watching on in person at the Emirates Stadium.

“Big Gabi has not had a muscular injury [before, but] he is playing a lot now, he is travelling, going to Brazil, he is a starter with Brazil,” Arteta said ahead of the Monaco game.

There were a few other fitness doubts ahead of the match after five players missed training on Tuesday, but Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber returned to the squad on Wednesday.

Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko are the two players who may still return in time for Everton, like Gabriel, but there are no updates on those two yet.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu will both miss the Everton match with longer-term issues.