Arsenal confirm shocking extent of Gabriel injury

Arsenal have confirmed centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

The Brazilian defender pulled up early in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday evening clutching the back of his right leg. After hobbling around the pitch while both teams refused to put the ball out of play, Gabriel was eventually helped onto the sidelines.

Mikel Arteta was wary of delivering any diagnosis immediately after the match and Declan Rice echoed many fans with his swift reaction. "I hope he's okay because he's been arguably our best player this season and we need him for big matches and big occasions," the midfielder said.

"Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery," the club explained.

"Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.

"Everyone at the club will be fully focused on supporting Gabi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."

Gabriel is hardly the only injury concern Arteta has to juggle ahead of a Champions League double-header against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals - the first leg of which takes place at the Emirates next Tuesday.

"How we have managed to be where we are with all those injuries," Arteta said, taking a defiant stance after confirming that there are also doubts over Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Jurrien Timber.

"It is what it is. But we want it so much that we're going to give it a real go. We lose four players in the defensive line in one week: Calafiori, Ben White, Jurrien and Gabi. We have still another four that they are so willing that they will do the job."

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