People at Arsenal are still concerned about ‘underrated’ star’s significant injury from last season

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Arsenal still believe they need to carefully manage one of their best players, who sustained a serious injury last season.

The Gunners sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table after seven matches, having conceded just three goals in the process.

However, not everything is bright and rosy for Mikel Arteta’s team, as they continue to have to deal with several injury issues.

Martin Odegaard is currently out with an MCL problem, while the likes of Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain long-term absentees.

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Arsenal cautious over Gabriel Magalhaes after hamstring injury

Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a season-ending injury to his hamstring in April.

The Brazilian missed the final two months of the Gunners’ campaign and only returned to action towards the end of pre-season.

Thus far this term, he’s played more minutes than any other player in Arteta’s squad, with new signing Piero Hincapie’s injury preventing him from having a rest.

Speaking on the Arsenal Vision Podcast, journalist James Benge revealed that he’s heard that Arsenal are acutely aware of the significance of the setback Gabriel had and are keen to carefully manage his load.

“I do think we have to remember that, and this is something that was really apparent when I dug around; there is still a sense that Gabi has had quite a significant injury,” he said.

“He needs to be carefully managed. So I do think we’ll see more of him [Hincapie] in Carabao and lesser Premier League games – filling in a Mosquera role.”

Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori have to take minutes from Gabriel Magalhaes

Gabriel has been described as ‘underrated’ in the past, but he certainly isn’t underappreciated at Arsenal.

The Gunners value their imperious centre-half highly, and this is reflected in their desire to protect him.

Hincapie should be fit and available for the North Londoners after the international break, which should provide Arteta with a genuine alternative option to Gabriel.

So far, the Spaniard has viewed Riccardo Calafiori as his first-choice left back, and the Italian has had his own injury issues in the last 12 months, which has meant he’s had to be protected even more than Gabriel.

With Hincapie, Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly at Arteta’s disposal, the Spaniard should be comfortably sitting Gabriel on the bench from time to time in the coming weeks.