In a night meant to showcase Brazil’s readiness for next summer’s World Cup, Arsenal were dealt a heavy dose of worry instead.
Gabriel Magalhães, the defensive pillar Mikel Arteta has leaned on all season, limped off during Brazil’s friendly against Senegal at the Emirates—turning a comfortable 2–0 win into a growing North London headache.
Brazil had already secured their World Cup ticket, but Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong side that delivered with confidence.
Chelsea’s rising star Estevão struck in the 28th minute, and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro doubled the lead shortly after, sealing a composed showing against a Senegal team that stunned England earlier in the summer.
But just as the evening seemed routine, Gabriel pulled up on the hour mark with what appeared to be a groin problem.
He immediately signaled to the bench and was replaced, walking off with visible frustration.
Carlo Ancelotti Speaks on Gabriel’s Injury
After the match, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti offered a cautious early assessment.
“I don’t know how bad it is,” he admitted. “It looks like an abductor issue. The medical staff will check tomorrow. We’re really sorry when a player gets injured… I hope he recovers well and returns soon.”
His words will do little to ease the tension back in London.
Gabriel has been indispensable for Arsenal this season, starting every Premier League match and anchoring a defense that has conceded just five goals in eleven games—the best record in the division.
The timing could hardly be worse. Arsenal return from the break on November 23 for the season’s first North London derby against Tottenham.
Days later comes a high-stakes Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, followed by tricky league tests against Chelsea, Brentford, and Aston Villa.
Images from the match showed Gabriel leaving the pitch with a look of disbelief—an all-too-familiar sight for a club constantly battling injuries at crucial moments.
And the trouble may not stop there. Riccardo Calafiori, another key defensive figure, has been ruled out of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Norway due to a hip issue and has already returned to London for assessment.
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso praised his effort to push through the discomfort, but stressed: “We could have made him grit his teeth, but that’s not fair when he has a match every three or four days.”
With Spurs looming, Arsenal can only hope both defenders receive positive medical news—and quickly.
