Arsenal receive unexpected late injury boost before Brighton clash as Mikel Arteta ‘decision’ awaits
Arsenal have reportedly received an unexpected late injury boost ahead of their Premier League showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.
As was the case last weekend, the Gunners could go into their next top-flight match second in the table. Premier League tableas Manchester City take on Nottingham Forest in the day’s kick-off.
Victory for the Sky Blues at the City Ground would put Pep Guardiola’s men a point ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side, but Arsenal were backed to comfortably knock out the Seagulls on their own land.
Arteta provided brief pre-match injury update on Boxing Day, including breaking news on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes, who have been sidelined with knee and thigh problems respectively.
The Spaniard revealed Havertz – who has returned to full training – is just days away from a long-awaited return from his serious problem, but he was less optimistic about Gabriel.
Arteta said the Brazilian defender has not yet trained with the team and is still undergoing rehabilitation, which appears to rule him out of the clash with Fabian Hurzeler’s men this weekend.
Arsenal receive unexpected Gabriel injury boost ahead of Brighton?
© Imago / Sportsphoto
However, according to Hand of ArsenalGabriel was seen with the rest of the Arsenal squad on Friday evening, suggesting the 28-year-old could have a chance of returning to the first team on Saturday.
Arteta and his coaching staff will reportedly decide today whether to include Gabriel in the matchday squad, in what would be the centre-back’s first appearance for the club since the 2-2 draw against Sunderland on November 8.
The former Lille man has missed each of Arsenal’s last nine matches in all competitions since injuring his hamstring while on duty in Brazil last month, and the Gunners have kept just three clean sheets during his absence.
Before entering the treatment room, Gabriel had registered two goals and three assists in his first 17 appearances of the season, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest defenders in both penalty areas.
Could Gabriel be part of Arsenal’s triple injury boost?
© Imago / Sportimage
Gabriel’s inclusion in the squad against Brighton would be a significant surprise, especially after Arteta’s comments, but the Gooners have learned to take the manager’s pre-match injury updates with a pinch of salt.
The Brazilian’s possible return could be one of three fitness boosts for the north London giants today, as neither Piero Hincapie (shoulder) nor Gabriel Martinelli (knock) have been ruled out of the match either.
Hincapie would be a more likely starter than Gabriel at full-back given the latter’s long layoff, but Arteta can deploy Riccardo Calafiori centrally and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left if he does not want to risk either South American.
Max Dowman (ankle), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) and Ben White (hamstring) will all miss out for Arsenal, who must keep a clean sheet on Saturday if they are to have any chance of winning, history suggests.