Arsenal handed huge Gabriel injury blow after Riccardo Calafiori setback

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Evening Standard

·15 November 2025

Arsenal handed huge Gabriel injury blow after Riccardo Calafiori setback

Another blow of a potentially very damaging international break for the Gunners

Arsenal have been handed a huge Gabriel injury scare after the centre-back was forced off during Brazil’s international friendly with Senegal.

The latest blow comes mere hours after fellow Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori was ruled out of Italy’s crucial World Cup qualifier after failing to overcome a hip injury.

Gabriel started for Brazil at the Emirates Stadium but was forced off shortly after the hour mark with a suspected groin injury.

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It remains unclear when Gabriel picked up the problem, but the defender walked off the pitch looking dejected.

It is yet another concern for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who will also be sweating over the fitness of Calafiori.

The Italian joined up with his national team earlier this week but has been unable to play or even train with his team-mates due to a hip problem.

Azzurri head coach Gennaro Gattuso confirmed earlier on Saturday that Calafiori will sit out the game against Norway due to the issue, thus ruling him out of the entire international break.

Arsenal host north London rivals Tottenham when the Premier League season resumes next weekend, and Spurs have their own injury woes to juggle.

Earlier in the same friendly, midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was also forced off with an injury, potentially taking Spurs’ list of absentees for the derby into double figures.