Gabriel, Arsenal’s key defender, suffered a groin injury during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium in London. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Gabriel, 27, will undergo assessment on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury.

The Arsenal centre-back pulled up off the ball just before the hour mark, receiving treatment on his right thigh before being substituted. The injury raises concerns ahead of Arsenal’s busy fixture schedule, with the North London derby against Tottenham on 23 November and a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich the following Wednesday.

Gabriel’s Importance to Arsenal

Gabriel has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defensive setup this season. The Gunners sit atop the Premier League table, having conceded just five goals in 11 matches, highlighting the Brazilian’s critical role alongside his defensive partners.

Ancelotti expressed concern but remained cautiously optimistic:

“Bad? I don’t know. 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.”

Brazil Defeat Senegal Through Estevao and Casemiro

Brazil secured the friendly victory through goals from Chelsea teenager Estevao and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, maintaining momentum ahead of future international fixtures.

Riccardo Calafiori Leaves Italy Camp for Load Management

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori has left Italy’s international camp ahead of their match against Norway. The defender did not feature in Italy’s World Cup qualifying win over Moldova on Thursday, following an individual training program for load management.

Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso explained:

“We tried Calafiori, he had a few issues. I thank him for his commitment. He stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal.”

A source confirmed to BBC Sport that Calafiori has not returned to Arsenal for treatment, indicating that the player is being carefully managed to prevent aggravation of any existing issues.

Looking Ahead for Arsenal

The injuries to Gabriel and the careful management of Calafiori highlight Arsenal’s ongoing need for squad depth during a congested period in both domestic and European competitions. Fans will be closely monitoring updates on Gabriel’s condition as Arsenal prepares for a crucial run of fixtures that will test their title credentials in the Premier League and Champions League.