An injury analyst has provided an update on Gabriel Magalhães after his substitution during Arsenal’s match against Liverpool, where he was suspected to have a knee injury.
The Brazilian defender went down in the second half at the Emirates Stadium, signaling to the bench that he couldn’t continue once play resumed.
Arsenal’s medical team quickly conducted assessments on Gabriel’s knee, raising concerns for Mikel Arteta and the team about the injury’s seriousness.
This is particularly troubling as William Saliba is set to return from suspension for the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Preston North End, though Gabriel’s availability remains uncertain.
The Twitter account FPLPhysio suggested Gabriel might have sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. They explained that the physios assessed him on the field, testing for MCL damage. Although Gabriel initially tried to continue, he eventually left the game shortly after.
According to the analysis, Gabriel’s recovery time could vary depending on the injury’s severity. A grade one sprain might sideline him for one to three weeks, while a grade two injury could extend his recovery to four to six weeks.
In a worst-case scenario, a grade three injury would mean a six-week or longer absence. Since Gabriel continued playing briefly after the initial incident, it’s likely a grade one or two injury.
Additionally, left-back Riccardo Calafiori faced a suspected MCL injury after being substituted due to twisting awkwardly, though an official diagnosis has not been confirmed.
Reports from Italian media suggest he may have a grade one or low grade two injury, which could sideline him for one to six weeks. Notably, Calafiori was absent from the Liverpool match, adding to Arsenal’s injury concerns.
For MCL injuries, a grade three injury could mean a six to ten-week recovery, while grade one injuries typically require one to two weeks and grade two injuries about two to six weeks.
As Arsenal faces these injury challenges, the return of key players like Saliba will be vital in maintaining performance amid a demanding fixture schedule.
The club’s medical team will need to monitor both Gabriel and Calafiori closely as they prepare for upcoming matches.
