Arsenal have suffered yet another injury blow this season.
The Gunners have been troubled by fitness issues from the start of the campaign. Multiple players have spent spells on the sidelines for one injury or another, and that has cost Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Magalhaes has now suffered a hamstring injury, and although the extent of it is unclear, there are fears that he could be out for a while.
If that is indeed the case, Arsenal will need someone else to fill his big shoes, and Arteta is confident that one player can do the job.
What Mikel Arteta has said about Jakub Kiwior replacing Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal signed Jakub Kiwior from Spezia in a £21 million deal back in January 2023.
The Pole has never been a regular for the Gunners, but he has played in multiple positions. There have been quite a few excellent performances as well.
However, Kiwior hasn’t been consistent enough to nail down a place for himself in the side, and it always feels like there is a mistake in him.
That is a concern to Arsenal supporters, but Arteta seems confident that the Poland international can take Gabriel’s place and do a good job there.
After the win against Fulham on Tuesday night, Arteta said in his press conference: “The good thing with Jakub is that he’s been very reliable.
“Every time we need him, he’s always there, he’s available and he does his job. We ask him to play as a left centre-back, as a right centre-back, as a left full-back. He’s ready, he’s got a smile on his face.
“It’s sad for Gabi, but he really wanted to play as well and he will be fine.”
Mikel Arteta must be having flashbacks of 2023
Injuries are nothing new for Arsenal at this point this season, and the players and Arteta deserve a lot of praise for how well they have dealt with them so far.
But, Gabriel’s injury could hurt them more than all the others now.
That’s because along with the Brazilian, Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White are also out injured, while Jurrien Timber hobbled off with a knee issue as well.
There is a sense of deja vu in this, as back in the business end of the 2022/23 season, Arsenal lost William Saliba, and many felt that cost them the title.
What actually crushed the Gunners was that Takehiro Tomiyasu got injured at the exact same time, and Arteta had to use Rob Holding at the back as a result.
The Arsenal manager will be hoping that his side can deal with Gabriel’s absence much better than they did when Saliba was out back in 2023.
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