Mikel Arteta could drop shock Arsenal starter against Fulham

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The end of the international break is in sight as Arsenal prepare to return to Premier League action with a trip down the Thames.

Fulham will host Arsenal on matchday eight, a clash that the Gunners will enter in control of the Premier League table.

The Arsenal players in action over the international break will shortly return to Colney to get to work, with some having shorter trips than others to get back to N5.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli have travelled all the way to Asia over the break, ending their time with the Brazil camp in Tokyo.

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Mikel Arteta might be tempted to rest Gabriel Magalhaes against Fulham

Arsenal’s two Brazilians have been racking up the air miles and will soon begin their travel back to London from Tokyo.

With a flight time of almost 14 hours, the two Gunners have a gruelling trip back to England to embark on before reporting to Arsenal training ahead of facing Fulham.

Such could tempt Mikel Arteta to make a tweak to his starting XI to face Fulham, starting Gabriel on the bench rather than alongside William Saliba.

It’s not only travel that the Arsenal manager will be wary about, as there have also been internal conversations about the defender’s fitness.

Arsenal are wary of how serious Gabriel’s injury was last season, a hamstring problem that required surgery to resolve.

As a result, more frequent rotation is said to be expected, which could start against Fulham, considering how much travelling the 27-year-old will have also done.

The workload is set to increase for Arsenal, who have seven games in the space of just one month before the November international break commences.

Why Gabriel will be desperate to feature against Fulham

Arteta might take a cautious approach with Gabriel against Fulham, but the defender will be absolutely desperate to play.

In his career, the Brazilian has only scored three goals against two clubs, Fulham being one of them. 

With three goals in six appearances against the Cottagers, Gabriel will be eager to add to his tally in a bid to keep Arsenal at the top of the table.

It would be a surprise for Arteta to rest Gabriel; however, given the travelling, his recent surgery and the options the Arsenal manager has to rotate, it could be smart.