Gabriel Magalhães was substituted at halftime during Arsenal’s dominant Premier League victory over West Ham on Saturday.
The Brazilian center-back had earlier opened the scoring with a powerful header in the 10th minute and later earned a penalty after being struck in the head by West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during first-half injury time.
The penalty was converted by Bukayo Saka, helping Arsenal to a commanding lead at the break.
Despite his early contributions, Gabriel appeared visibly dazed after the collision and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior for the second half.
The 26-year-old remained on the bench alongside his Arsenal teammates, but his fitness for Wednesday’s clash against Manchester United remains uncertain.
Gabriel’s early departure follows a physical Champions League outing against Sporting CP midweek, where he also sustained an injury.
The defender’s resilience has been key to Arsenal’s recent form, and his potential absence could pose a challenge for manager Mikel Arteta.
With Manchester United up next at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta may need to rely on alternatives like Kiwior to maintain defensive solidity.
Gabriel’s performances this season have been integral to Arsenal’s campaign, and fans will be hopeful for a quick recovery as the Gunners face a busy December schedule.
Arsenal’s impressive attacking display against West Ham serves as a reminder of their offensive capabilities, but their defensive depth may now come under scrutiny in the weeks ahead
One of the few people Arsenal want to lose to injury