Gabriel a doubt for Tottenham clash after Brazil confirm thigh injury
By The Guardian, November 16, 2025The Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães is a doubt for next Sunday’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur after picking up a thigh injury in Brazil’s friendly win against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, November 15, 2025
Gabriel, who has been a cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence this season, was substituted in the 64th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 victory after he appeared to signal discomfort in his upper thigh.
He walked off the pitch while pointing to the affected area, prompting immediate concerns from both Brazil’s medical team and Arsenal officials.
On Sunday, November 16, 2025, the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that medical scans revealed a muscle injury in the defender’s right thigh.
As a result, Gabriel will not travel with the national team for Tuesday’s friendly against Tunisia in Lille. Instead, he has been released back to Arsenal for further assessment and treatment in London.
The 27-year-old has featured in every Premier League match for Arsenal this season, helping the league leaders concede only five goals in 11 fixtures.
Before their recent 2-2 draw against Sunderland, the Gunners had kept eight clean sheets in a row across all competitions, with Gabriel forming a strong partnership at centre-back alongside William Saliba.
Selection headache for Arteta
Should Gabriel be unavailable, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be forced into defensive adjustments for one of their most crucial fixtures of the campaign.
Possible replacements include Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapié, both of whom have been rotated in cup competitions.
Arsenal host Spurs on Sunday, November 23, 2025, in a fixture that could have major implications at the top of the table.
The Gunners then face German giants Bayern Munich in a Champions League night at the Emirates on Wednesday, adding urgency to Gabriel’s recovery.
In a further setback, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has also withdrawn from international duty with Italy, leaving Arteta with growing injury concerns ahead of a defining week in the club’s season.