Arsenal gave Gabriel a boost after injury scares in action against Brazil
Arsenal have received a fitness boost after defender Gabriel trained with his Brazilian team-mates on Sunday.
The centre-back gave the Gunners a scare on Friday when he left in the closing stages of Brazil’s 5-1 win over Bolivia in World Cup qualifying.
Gabriel, who made his senior team debut in Belem, was then seen sitting on the bench applying ice to his right thigh.
However, the 25-year-old trained as usual with the Brazilian team in Lima on Sunday ahead of their final qualifying match against Peru on Tuesday, allaying fears that he has picked up an injury.
Injury fear: Arsenal defender Gabriel failed to make his debut for the Brazilian senior national team against Bolivia
/ Getty ImagesThe news is a major boost for Arsenal, who have already been plagued by injuries to their defense at the start of the season.
Summer signing Jurrien Timber suffered a serious knee injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest and will be sidelined for months following surgery.
Thomas Partey, meanwhile, is currently sidelined with a groin problem and coach Mikel Arteta said earlier this month that the Ghana international will be sidelined for “weeks”.
Midfielder Partey played at right-back in the opening weeks of the season, while Ben White lined up alongside William Saliba in central defense.
However, White moved back to right-back to make up for the absence of Partey in the dramatic late 3-1 win over Manchester United before the international break, and Gabriel returned to join Saliba in the middle – Arsenal’s familiar centre-back partnership from last season’s title fight – and the fit-again Oleksandr Zinchenko, who starts at left-back after short stints with players like Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior.
Gabriel’s initial fall from grace under Arteta was a surprising subplot to Arsenal’s start to the new season, having started alongside Saliba in the Community Shield win over Manchester City at Wembley in early August.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-fc-gabriel-boost-injury-scare-brazil-b1106126.html Arsenal gave Gabriel a boost after injury scares in action against Brazil
