Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals Gabriel latest in eight-man injury update for Tottenham derby

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·21 novembre 2025

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals Gabriel latest in eight-man injury update for Tottenham derby

Gunners boss speaks on fitness of Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard before north London showdown with Spurs

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Gabriel will miss “weeks” through injury, though captain Martin Odegaard could yet lead a raft of returnees for Sunday’s north London derby showdown with Tottenham.

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Gabriel limped off in the second half of Brazil’s friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend with an adductor issue, with subsequent reports claiming there were fears that the influential centre-back could be sidelined until January.

Arteta has been unable to provide an exact time frame for Gabriel’s potential return, with a clearer picture set to emerge after a latest scan scheduled for next week.

“Gabi unfortunately picked up an injury with the Brazilian national team,” the Gunners boss said on Friday, ahead of a first clash of the season with Spurs. “He is going to be out for weeks. We need to have another scan, I think it is next Wednesday. We will have the timeline much more clearer then.”

Riccardo Calafiori was another key injury concern for Arsenal during the international break, having eventually withdrawn from the Italy camp with a hip problem ahead of their crunch World Cup qualifier against Norway on Sunday.

He initially trained separately and travelled for their first game in Moldova, where he did not play.

The versatile defender is battling a few lingering knocks and is yet to train since returning to London, though Arteta has not yet ruled him out of this weekend’s derby.

“He missed it (the international break),” Arteta said of Calafiori. “He has been carrying a few things. He hasn’t trained yet. Tomorrow we have another training session, let’s see how he is.”

Standard Sport understands that Odegaard is hoping to play against Tottenham in what would be his first outing since sustaining a knee injury in early October, shortly after his return from a shoulder complaint.

Arteta is hoping that his skipper can make another step forward in training on Saturday, along with a quintet of previously injured team-mates including key striker Viktor Gyokeres.

When asked about Odegaard, Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus ahead of the meeting with Spurs, Arteta replied: “We put a lot of energy in during the international break to try to bring them back as quick as possible.

“Tomorrow we have another session, see how they are feeling. I am hopeful that we can make another step tomorrow.”