The North London derby is already knocking on the door. However, the Gunners are hit with a major setback. The international break has delivered severe concerns regarding the key players facing their spells in sidelines. The list includes a blow to Gabriel, Odegaard, Timber and Jesus together.
Gabriel Major Setback
The most aggravating news revolves around the blow to the defender Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian sustained a muscle injury in the right thigh during a friendly face off. Moreover, the initial reports after the injury suggested that he Gabriel might be off for a longer period of time of around one or two months. This injury will lose him in the North London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur. He is also likely to miss the UEFA Champions League fixtures against Bayern Munich as well as Chelsea. Moreover, this will significantly effect the overall defensive structure of the Gunners under Mikel Arteta.
Positive news on Timber and Odegaard
Amidst of all the concerns, there are a few beacon of positive news. Jurrien Timber has been working for his comeback from a long time. He is available after a recent knee issue turns out to be nothing but a minor cut from a tackle. Moreover, captain Martin Odegaard also shared some good news that gives relief to the Gunners. He is significantly “making progress” and hopes to return sooner than expected. His quick recovery will help in offering the leadership and creativity that was missing for the past few games.
Gyokeres and His Unclear Situation
The situation for Viktor Gyokeres remains unclear. The former Sporting forward has been struggling with a hamstring issue. This led him to miss the recent club games as well as the international break. He is still under assessment and his availability for the weekend stays in firm doubt.
Author’s Opinion
Arsenal prepares for one of the biggest tests for this season. The medical team are grinding overtime to their full potential to accumulate a squad facing defining period.
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