“Never good news” – Mikel Arteta drops worrying Gabriel Magalhaes injury update after Arsenal shock FA Cup exit
Mikel Arteta has provided a concerning injury update on Gabriel Magalhaes, admitting that the central defender’s forced substitution during Arsenal’s shock FA Cup exit is “never good news.”
The Brazilian mainstay was withdrawn midway through the second half of the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday.
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Gabriel appeared to be in significant discomfort, clutching his right leg before signaling to the bench that he could no longer continue.
Arteta on Gabriel Magalhaes injury
Speaking in his post-match press conference, a visibly frustrated Arteta could not hide his worry regarding the 28-year-old’s condition.
Gabriel had only recently returned to the side after sitting out the international break with a knee issue, making this latest setback particularly alarming for the Premier League leaders.
Arteta said:
“I think he felt something. I don’t know exactly what it is. We’re going to have to assess him, but obviously, when a player is asking to be substituted, it’s never good news.”
The loss of Gabriel comes at a nightmare time for Arsenal. The defender was seen with ice strapped to his knee following the game, and with a Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP scheduled for Tuesday, the Gunners face the prospect of losing their defensive anchor for the most critical stretch of the season.
Arsenal crash out of second cup in two weeks
The injury served as the final blow on a disastrous afternoon for Arsenal, who have seen their hopes of a historic quadruple evaporate in the space of just fourteen days.
Following their defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup final at Wembley before the international break, the Gunners have now crashed out of another domestic trophy opportunity, leaving the Champions League and the Premier League the only two chances of willing a trophy this season.
Despite taking a second-half lead through Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal collapsed in the closing stages.
Shea Charles’ 85th-minute winner for the second-tier Saints sent the St Mary’s crowd into a frenzy and left the Premier League leaders reeling.
Having fully dominated the league for much of the season, Arteta’s side now faces a sudden “wobble” that threatens to derail their remaining ambitions in both the league and Europe.
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