Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti says he is “really sorry” after Arsenal defender Gabriel sustained an adductor injury during Saturday’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium.
The centre-back went down off the ball just after the hour mark and was substituted following on-pitch treatment. He was later seen leaving the stadium with a visible limp.
Gabriel, a key figure in Arsenal’s defensive structure, has been central to the club’s strong start to the season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side concede only five league goals and move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Brazil offer early assessment
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti confirmed the defender would undergo further tests.
“Bad? I don’t know,” he said. “He had an injury in his adductor. The medical staff has to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When a player has an injury, you hope they can recover well and soon.”
Goals from Estevao Willian and Casemiro secured Brazil’s win, but Gabriel’s withdrawal overshadowed the result for Arsenal fans monitoring international duty ahead of next weekend’s north London derby against Tottenham and the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Arsenal facing multiple fitness concerns
Gabriel’s fitness is not the only issue for Arteta.
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso confirmed fellow centre-back Riccardo Calafiori has left the national team camp due to “a few issues,” ruling him out of their World Cup qualifying fixtures.
“We tried Calafiori, he had a few issues,” Gattuso told Sky Sports. “He stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal.”
A pillar in defence and attack
Gabriel has become one of the Premier League’s standout performers, earning praise for his defensive consistency and aerial threat.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher recently described him as “the most influential player in the Premier League,” citing Arsenal’s clean-sheet record and his set-piece contributions.
Growing injury list for Arteta
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Noni Madueke and striker Viktor Gyökeres are also managing injury issues, adding further strain to the squad ahead of a critical run of fixtures.
The club now awaits medical updates to determine whether Gabriel will be available for the derby at Tottenham.
