October 29th 2024.
It was a tense moment for Arsenal fans when Gabriel had to be substituted during their game against Liverpool. The defender suffered a knee injury after colliding with Darwin Nunez and had to be taken off in the early stages of the second half. Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, was worried about the severity of the injury, especially since Gabriel had only recently returned from another injury.
To make matters worse, Arteta had to make another substitution with Jurrien Timber, who had just recovered from an injury himself, unable to continue playing. This was a blow to Arsenal's defense and they ended up conceding a late goal, resulting in a disappointing 2-2 draw against Arne Slot's team. However, after the match, Arteta revealed that the initial scans showed that Gabriel's injury was not as serious as they had feared.
"We are still monitoring him," Arteta said before their Carabao Cup game against Preston North End. "But it doesn't seem to be a major injury. He felt much better the next day and we ran some tests on him." As for Timber's substitution, Arteta assured that the player was fine but was simply tired and unable to continue playing.
Unfortunately, Arsenal's injury woes continue with the news that Riccardo Calafiori will be out for a couple of weeks after picking up an injury against Shakhtar Donetsk. Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard is still recovering from an ankle injury and is expected to be back before the international break. Arteta mentioned that Odegaard has been training for a few weeks now but they still need to tick a few boxes before he can make a full comeback.
In addition, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are still sidelined with knee and hamstring injuries, adding to Arsenal's growing list of injured players. Despite these setbacks, Arteta remains determined to rotate his squad and give opportunities to players who haven't had much playing time. "It's important to give everyone a chance, and they will definitely get their chance tomorrow," he stated.
However, Arteta emphasized that players must earn their place in the team and perform to help the team win. Whether they are young or experienced, every player must contribute positively to the team's performance. This mindset is crucial for Arsenal as they continue to face challenges on the field.
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