Ancelotti apologises to Arsenal as Gabriel’s injury sparks fears of lengthy layoff

By Ade Ade

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has issued an apology to Arsenal after defender Gabriel Magalhaes limped off during the Selecao’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal on Saturday, leaving the Gunners anxiously awaiting medical updates on one of their most influential players.

Gabriel, who has been a pillar at the heart of Arsenal’s defence this season, was forced off just after the hour mark with what has been described as an adductor injury.

The centre-back showed signs of discomfort before being replaced by Roma’s Wesley Franca, casting a shadow over an otherwise encouraging evening for Brazil.

With their place already secured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brazil used the Emirates Stadium fixture as part of their fine-tuning process ahead of next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Goals from Chelsea’s rising star Estevao and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro sealed a comfortable win for the five-time world champions, who have now recorded two victories in their last three outings.

But attention quickly shifted from the result to Gabriel’s condition, and the implications for Arsenal.

The 27-year-old has been a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s squad in their push for a first Premier League title since the 2003/04 Invincibles season. He has featured in all 17 matches this campaign across competitions, scoring twice and forming part of a defence that has propelled the Gunners to the top of both the Premier League and their Champions League group.

Speaking after the match, Ancelotti confirmed that Brazil’s medical team would assess Gabriel to determine the severity of the problem, while expressing regret over the injury.

“Bad? I don’t know,” Ancelotti said when asked about the defender’s condition. “He had a problem with his adductor, and the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When players have an injury, I hope they can recover well and soon.”

Arsenal will now brace for what could be a significant setback as they await further updates, with the hope that Gabriel’s injury is less serious than initially feared.