gabriel magalhaes arsenal
Arsenal is facing a significant challenge ahead of their North London Derby against Tottenham, with Gabriel Magalhães expected to be sidelined due to a thigh injury. The Brazilian defender sustained the injury during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. The 27-year-old is anticipated to be out of action for at least four weeks. In light of this development, former Arsenal player Nacho Monreal has expressed confidence in Yerson Mosquera stepping up to fill the void left by Gabriel.
Monreal said via BetMGM: “It’s a big miss because Gabriel is a very important player for Arsenal. Firstly, he’s a great defender but he also scores a lot of goals from set-pieces. He’s out, so probably in my opinion, Mosquera will play, only because when William Saliba was injured at the beginning of the season, Mosquera was the player who replaced Saliba.”
The former left-back continued: “The most surprising thing about Mosquera is that I was checking his numbers and everything and he’s still only 21! I was watching him play for Spain U21 on Tuesday, it feels like I’ve been watching him for four years and he’s still just 21. Of course, he has the level to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid but if you see their squads, they probably also have top centre-backs. Why didn’t Barcelona or Real Madrid sign him? Honestly, the truth is, I don’t know but Arsenal did very well to get him for that price.”
Mosquera’s potential inclusion in the starting lineup highlights Arsenal’s depth and adaptability in defense. The 21-year-old has already shown his capabilities earlier in the season, stepping in for William Saliba. His experience gained from playing at the Mestalla could prove invaluable in the upcoming derby. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defensive options remain robust, with Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori also available. Calafiori is expected to be fit for the match against Tottenham, having missed Italy’s final two World Cup qualifiers. Hincapie, the Ecuador captain, offers a left-footed option similar to Gabriel, providing manager Mikel Arteta with tactical flexibility.
As Arsenal prepares for this crucial fixture, the team’s ability to adapt to Gabriel’s absence will be tested. The North London Derby promises to be a significant challenge, and the Gunners will need to rely on their squad depth to maintain their competitive edge.
About The Author
