Gabriel sidelined? Arsenal await scan results as concerns grow

November 20, 2025 Oliver Obel

Arsenal are preparing for the possibility of an uncomfortable stretch without Gabriel Magalhães, whose injury on Brazil duty has left the club juggling both selection concerns and a modest financial hit.

The centre-back returned from the international break with a suspected thigh injury, and the early mood around the club suggests they may be without him for a while.

Gabriel came off during Brazil’s friendly against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium, signalling to the bench before sitting down on the turf. BBC Sport has reported that people close to the Brazilian camp fear he could be sidelined for at least a month.

The defender stayed in London after the match for tests and initial treatment. Those familiar with the situation told BBC Sport that the recovery window might stretch into January, depending on follow-up scans.

It’s an unwelcome disruption for a back line that has been one of Arsenal’s most reliable features this season; Gabriel has started all 11 Premier League matches as the club built the division’s best defensive record.

Arteta’s options—and limits

Mikel Arteta does have cover, though every alternative comes with context. Cristhian Mosquera, who joined from Valencia over the summer, has adapted quickly and is viewed inside the club as a natural candidate to step in.

Riccardo Calafiori would normally be another possibility, but his own fitness is uncertain. Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso explained to Sky Sport Italia that the defender had been dealing with “a few issues,” adding that pushing him to play “wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal.” Calafiori was sent back early from the national camp for further monitoring.

The timing isn’t ideal: Arsenal are heading into a busy run of games where Arteta typically leans on defensive continuity.

Financial footnote

Gabriel’s injury also brushes up against FIFA’s Club Protection Programme, which allows clubs to claim wage compensation when a player is injured on international duty.

Reporting from The Athletic notes that payouts are capped at roughly £120,000 per week. With Gabriel earning more than that under the long-term deal he signed in 2025, Arsenal will still be on the hook for the remaining portion of his salary—around £30,000 weekly.

Across a month, that shortfall comes to roughly £120,000; across ten weeks, closer to £300,000. It’s not the type of figure that alters a Premier League club’s planning, but it’s a reminder of the small costs that accumulate during international windows.

For Arteta, though, the real concern is continuity. Losing a defensive anchor as the schedule tightens will reshape the next few weeks more than any compensation loophole.

Sources: BBC Sport, The Athletic, Sky Sport Italia