Gabriel Magalhaes appeared to suffer a knock during the second half of Arsenal's clash against Southampton in the FA Cup. The Gunners defender was spotted clutching his left knee shortly before he was replaced by William Saliba.
Rather than beeline for the dressing room, Gabriel took a seat on the bench. As it stands, the severity of the problem remains unclear, but Mikel Arteta will be expected to provide an update in his post-match press conference.
The 28-year-old withdrew from the Brazil squad at the start of the international break. In an official statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation, Gabriel complained of 'pain in his right knee' following the Carabao Cup final.
It read: "Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães is out of the friendlies against France and Croatia. After the game this Sunday (22) against Manchester City, for the final of the English League Cup, the athlete complained of pain in his right knee.
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"Imaging tests have confirmed that Gabriel Magalhães is not fit to play in the matches during this FIFA international break -- no other player will be called up to replace him."
Gabriel was one of several players that appeared to miss training ahead of the trip to the south coast. He was one of many who were not pictured in action at the Sobha Realty Training Centre in the build-up to the FA Cup quarter-final.
Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, Arteta commented on the injury crisis in north London. The Spaniard said: "Yeah, we have very good relationships and communications with most of the national teams, certainly with Thomas [Tuchel].
"We’ve been extremely supportive all the time, and when you have to communicate the state and the moment of every player, we are always very honest, and in the end it’s a medical decision that has to be made and that was clear what the conclusion was."
Arteta continued: "I think when a player is fit and available to play, they have to play. I think it makes us so proud that we have that many players in the national team, and the players are desperate to play in the national team.
"We know how important every time that they are together and the time that they spend in preparation means to them, so we are fully supportive of that and when we can do it, we do it."
On whether there are any players who would not available after the international break, the Arsenal gaffer said: "You will see, I will continue the speculation so you can do it and you can judge it afterwards, if what I say was right or you have to maybe change and delete and write something else."
On the importance of the FA Cup, Arteta said: "Huge competition, so related to the history of our football club. We’re going to play a team that is in a really good moment, they have won so many games recently, they’re in a really good moment.
"You know the expectations, the crowd, the environment that they are going to create, so we are ready for that, and we want to be at Wembley again, so tomorrow we have the opportunity to do that again."
