Arsenal suffer huge Gabriel injury blow

Arsenal have suffered a setback before their pre-season has even kicked off with the news that Gabriel has been ruled out of Brazil’s Olympics squad with a worrying knee injury.

Mikel Arteta is yet to officially confirm any new signings to his squad and the news of Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli being called up to play for Brazil at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics meant pre-season would already begin with a threadbare backline.

Gabriel had linked up with the Selecao on July 1 but complained of a discomfort in his right knee. The 22-year-old had started physical therapy in a bid to quell the issue but continued to report some pain. Having an MRI on Monday, the Brazilian FA confirmed tendonitis in the right knee was detected, with joint swelling.

Even working on the basis that Ben White is signed this summer, and there is interest from Everton and Manchester City, the Brighton centre-back will be granted an extended holiday due to his involvement with England at the European Championships.

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Arsenal suffer huge Gabriel injury blow as centre-back is ruled out of pre-season with William Saliba loan move potentially put on halt in summer window

That would leave only Rob Holding and Pablo Mari as senior options in that department. William Saliba is due to leave on loan this summer with Marseille an increasingly unlikely option, and while he is expected to stay with the Gunners for their preparations, he will leave at some point.

It’s a huge blow for Arsenal and Gabriel as while the 22-year-old would have missed pre-season with Arsenal anyway, his ventures with Brazil would have provided him with time to build up fitness.

With Brazil’s first game due to take place on July 22 – and the final not until August 7 – it must be sufficiently serious for him not to remain with the team in the hopes of a recovery. At this stage the extent of the injury isn’t fully known.

On the positive side, well respected sport doctor Dr. Rajpal Brar DPT added that the medical and training staff did a great job with Martin Ødegaard who suffered chronic and harder to manage stages of tendinopathy, so the injury won’t be too concerning if it’s caught and handled quickly.

Calum Chambers can work as backup at centre-back and despite Saliba’s impending departure, Arteta is unlikely to call a halt on that loan move even if it may help spare him in the early stages of the season depending on Gabriel’s fitness.

How about a Chambers and Holding partnership to start the new Premier League season a la the 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool for the opening game of the 2016/17 campaign? Might not be too unlikely given Mari’s own injury record.