Arsenal have confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhães will miss several weeks due to a thigh injury sustained on international duty with Brazil. The 27-year-old centre-back's absence is a significant blow ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur and the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Manager Mikel Arteta highlighted the team's depth as options like Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera prepare to step in.
Arsenal face a defensive challenge after manager Mikel Arteta announced that Gabriel Magalhães, their 27-year-old Brazilian centre-back, has been ruled out for weeks following a thigh injury picked up while on international duty. The injury will sideline Gabriel for this weekend's Premier League north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2025, as well as next week's Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
Arteta described the setback as a major loss, stating, “Gabriel, unfortunately, picked up an injury with the Brazilian national team and he’s going to be out for weeks.” He added, “It’s clearly a blow because he’s our leader in our backline and to me it’s never a positive thing.” A further scan is scheduled for next Wednesday to clarify the exact timeline, with initial reports suggesting at least four weeks out.
Gabriel has been ever-present in Arsenal's Premier League matches this season, excelling in leadership and defensive contributions. Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, he has made 16 more headed clearances than partner William Saliba and ranks joint second in the division for blocks. He wins over 66% of his duels and is a key set-piece threat, scoring five more goals than any other top-flight defender since joining in 2020.
To cover his absence, Arteta has options including Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, and Riccardo Calafiori, who faces a late fitness test after missing training. Hincapie and Mosquera are in contention to partner Saliba, while Calafiori could shift from left-back if fit.
Arsenal also hope to recover several attacking players for the derby, including captain Martin Ødegaard (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (groin), Kai Havertz (knee), Noni Madueke (knee), Viktor Gyökeres (hamstring), and Gabriel Jesus (knee). Arteta noted efforts during the international break to accelerate their returns, with clarity expected after Saturday's training session.
The Gunners' record without Gabriel has been mixed; last season, they won only four of 12 Premier League games when he and Saliba did not start together, compared to a 61.5% win rate otherwise. His absence could span up to 11 matches, including key fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Liverpool in January.
