Gabriel Magalhaes limped off during Arsenal’s Champions League win against Sporting CP on Tuesday and there are now question marks surrounding the Brazilian’s fitness ahead of the weekend’s round of fixtures.
The Gunners travel to London Stadium on Saturday evening to face West Ham, who go into the clash on the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Newcastle. A win for Mikel Arteta’s side could take them into second, and with Man City and Liverpool playing one another on Sunday it would be a crucial three points for the north Londoners.
They may have to beat the Hammers without Gabriel, however, after the commanding centre-back was forced off through injury against Sporting. “We don’t know. We had to make the change because he was feeling some discomfort,” Arteta said after the match when asked for an update on Gabriel. “I was about to make the change for Raz [Raheem Sterling], poor thing, I couldn’t make the sub. We had to get him out.”
The 26-year-old has featured in every Premier League game for Arsenal so far this season, with his partnership with William Saliba at the heart of defence perhaps the best in the league. So, who can Arsenal call upon should the Brazilian not make the trip to West Ham? football.london takes a look at two options below.
Jakub Kiwior
Since joining the Gunners from Spezia in January 2023 in a deal worth around £20million, Jakub Kiwior has struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI. Making appearances at centre-back and left-back, the Polish international has done alright when called upon and has proven to be a decent squad player.
Kiwior replaced Gabriel with just over five minutes to go at the Estádio José Alvalade and would be a trustworthy replacement for the game at West Ham. The 24-year-old has made nine appearances for the Gunners this term, although the majority of those in the league have come off the bench.
Possible Arsenal XI with Kiwior: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Riccardo Calafiori
Former Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori joined Arsenal this summer in a deal worth £42million. He has mainly featured at left-back for the Gunners, with his sole appearance at centre-back coming in the 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup.
Despite a knee injury keeping him out of a handful of games, Calafiori has performed very well and has shown previously in his career – namely while playing for Italy – that he is a very good centre-back. Strong, quick and able to bring the ball out comfortably, Calafiori could more than do a job if asked to replace Gabriel.
Of course, if Arteta were to put Calafiori at centre-back, either Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko would need to come in at left-back.
Possible Arsenal XI with Calafiori: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
