Arsenal will be without Gabriel for their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid after it was confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
The 27-year-old centre-back, who has been a crucial figure in Arsenal’s defense throughout the season, sustained a hamstring injury during the first half of Tuesday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Fulham. It has now been revealed that the injury will require surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign. Arsenal has stated that Gabriel’s goal is to be fully fit and ready for the start of next season, marking a significant setback for Mikel Arteta’s side just ahead of their potentially season-defining Champions League tie against Real Madrid.
The first leg of the quarter-final is set to take place at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, with the return leg scheduled for April 16 at the Santiago Bernabeu. While Arsenal did receive a boost with the return of Bukayo Saka in the win over Fulham, their defensive options have become increasingly limited. In addition to Gabriel’s injury, Jurrien Timber also picked up an injury during Tuesday’s match, while Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are both sidelined, and Takehiro Tomiyasu has been unavailable for the entire season.
To compound matters, both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who are key figures in Arsenal’s attacking setup, will also miss the rest of the season, leaving the squad further stretched heading into the critical Champions League encounter.
