Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes is in the mix to return for Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League showdown against Everton on Saturday.
The Brazilian defender has been sidelined for Arsenal’s last three games after suffering an injury during the 5-2 win over West Ham on November 30.
Earlier this week, Arteta revealed that Gabriel was dealing with a “muscular injury” and that the team’s packed schedule has slowed his recovery.
However, in his Friday press conference, Arteta hinted that Gabriel could soon be back in action, with Riccardo also progressing towards full fitness.
“There’s a chance one of them could be available,” Arteta said. “He trained today, and we’ll assess him tomorrow.”
When asked about the cautious return of Calafiori, Arteta explained, “We’re following the medical team’s timeline and will monitor his progress daily. He’s not fully ready, but he’s very close.”
Arsenal go into the match against Everton in strong form, having won five of their last six games in all competitions.
Currently sitting third in the Premier League, Arteta’s men are just six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Everton, who ended a five-match winless streak with a 4-0 victory over Wolves on December 4, have had more time to recover ahead of the trip to the Emirates, with their Merseyside derby against Liverpool being postponed due to Storm Darragh.
