Gabriel injury blow sees Arsenal defender withdraw from Brazil squad | OneFootball

Defender follows William Saliba, Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber in pulling out of international duty

Arsenal defender Gabriel has withdrawn from Brazil's squad for the March international break with knee pain.

A statement released by the Brazil national team read: "Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães is out of the friendlies against France and Croatia. After the match this Sunday (22) against Manchester City in the English League Cup final, the player complained of pain in his right knee.

Brazil will face France and Croatia in pre-World Cup friendlies this week and next.

Gabriel joins several of his Arsenal team-mates in withdrawing from international duty this month following the cup final defeat.

Defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber have pulled out of France and the Netherlands' squads, respectively.

Eberechi Eze missed the Carabao Cup final with a calf injury and has excused himself from England duty, while Leandro Trossard has declined the call-up to represent Belgium.

Martin Odegaard, meanwhile, was not called up by Norway for their impending friendlies against the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Ancelotti had already named a fairly experimental squad for Brazil's upcoming matches, with four debutants named to the team. Brentford striker Igor Thiago was among them, as was Bournemouth's Rayan.

Chelsea wonderkid Estevao has been left out, though, due to persistent injury issues, as has the legend Neymar.