Alan Shearer has expressed his concerns about Arsenal missing William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes following their 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge, Arsenal were dealt the shock blow of losing William Saliba to injury after the Frenchman picked up an issue in training.
In tricky circumstances, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera were brought into the team and endured a mixed afternoon in SW6.
It’s clear that Saliba and Gabriel were big misses in the London derby, according to Shearer, but Hincapie and Mosquera must prove him wrong.
Alan Shearer says Arsenal badly missed William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes
Alan Shearer claims that Arsenal badly missed William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes against Chelsea.
The former Premier League striker thought that the Gunners looked nowhere near as threatening from set-pieces as they often did without Gabriel.
Shearer told BBC Sport: “Against Chelsea, they were missing both of their first-choice centre-halves, Gabriel and William Saliba, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that, without them, they conceded from a Chelsea set-piece and did not look their usual threat from their own.”
Mikel Arteta issues William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes injury updates
“I don’t know. I think he’s got another test tomorrow. We’ll need to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had. And we’ll know more with Gabi still some weeks to go.”
Mikel Arteta
Can Arsenal actually cope without either William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes?
Gabriel is particularly effective at attacking set pieces, with the Brazilian having provided two goals and three assists from these situations this season.
Away at Newcastle, Gabriel headed home the winner, and the Gunners wouldn’t have the same lead at the top of the Premier League without him.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Arteta’s team don’t look quite as secure, as they allowed Trevoh Chalobah to score from a corner.
However, with Gabriel out for ‘some weeks’ and Saliba set for ‘another test’ on Monday, Hincapie and Mosquera will need to rise to the task for the Gunners.
Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera must rise to the occasion for Arsenal
With the pair facing a run in the team, it’s time for them to step up and prove Shearer’s concerns about the absence of Saliba and Gabriel wrong.
It was a shaky afternoon for Hincapie and Mosquera against Chelsea, as the pair struggled to get to grips with the task at hand in the first half.
Can Arsenal’s defence deal with Igor Thiago against Brentford?
The Brazilian striker has now scored 11 goals in 13 Premier League matches this season and is one of the most in-form players in the top-flight…
Is Thaigo’s form a concern for you ahead of Wednesday’s clash?
Arsenal’s defensive duo stepped up in the second half, but they will be gutted to have let Chelsea score from a corner.
Next up, they will face the in-form Igor Thiago, who has scored 11 goals in his first 13 Premier League matches this season for Brentford.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
