£27m Arsenal player’s leg now looks totally different after suffering injury last season

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Arsenal are set to face Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium in their latest pre-season friendly clash.

It will be the first chance for fans to see Mikel Arteta’s new-look side on home soil this season after the club’s tour to Asia.

Noni Madueke has returned to training this week and is expected to make his debut for the club at some point, whilst Viktor Gyokeres is also expected to feature for longer than the 12 minutes on his debut.

The Gunners were plagued with injuries last season but had some good news in Jurrien Timber returning to full training. However, one long-term absentee has returned to the fold with a noticeable difference.

READ MORE: Arsenal coaches left applauding after seeing what Noni Madueke did in his first training session

Gabriel Magalhaes has noticeable difference in injured right leg

Gabriel Magalhaes is yet to feature in pre-season for Arsenal following his recovery from hamstring surgery at the end of the last campaign.

However, the Gunners are hopeful that Gabriel will be fit for the season opener at Manchester United and could earn his first minutes in the clash with Villarreal.

The Brazilian defender was pictured in Arsenal’s recent training session and eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted a stark difference in his right leg.

It appears that Gabriel has lost a significant amount of muscle mass in his injured right leg and that will be a worry to fans ahead of the start of the season.

The centre back is such an important player for the club but Arteta must resist any urge to rush him back for the start of the campaign if his body is not ready yet.

Jakub Kiwior deputised brilliantly in Gabriel’s absence last season and formed another formidable partnership with William Saliba.

Gabriel Magalhaes has grown in influence at Arsenal

When Arsenal signed Gabriel in the summer of 2020, the Brazilian endured a mixed start to his career in North London.

Arteta’s side were going through a huge period of transition and Gabriel at times looked lost in makeshift defensive line-ups.

However, since forming a partnership with Saliba, the 27-year-old has gone from strength to strength in an Arsenal shirt and arguably is now one of the club’s most important players.

His leadership and presence at the back has been a huge contributing factor to the Gunners’ successful defensive records over the last two seasons.

Arsenal have missed Gabriel at set pieces in his absence both defensively and in attack, his return will be a huge boost to the club, but it has to be at the right time for the player.