"He felt something": Mikel Arteta confirms big Arsenal injury blow ahead of Sporting CP game

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed a big injury blow for defender Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on the road.

The Gunners bowed out of the FA Cup in the last eight stage yesterday after a surprise 2-1 defeat at Southampton. Arteta played a much-rotated line-up and paid the price with a second straight loss.

Magalhaes got the nod to start the game alongside Cristhian Mosquera in the heart of the defence. William Saliba came on late to replace the Brazilian, who complained about a knee injury.

Speaking after the game, the manager said that Gabriel ‘felt something’ and it is ‘never good news’ when a player asks to be substituted, he told reporters: “I don’t know, I think he felt something.

“I don’t know exactly what it is. We’re going to have to assess him – but obviously when a player is asking to be substituted, it’s never good news.”

Arsenal suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and had their worst possible start after the international break with a 2-1 defeat to the Saints at St Mary’s.

St Mary’s has been a bogey club for the Gunners over the years, and they suffered another setback. The decision to go with a heavily rotated starting XI proved costly on the South Coast.

Arsenal have lost two Cup competitions in a matter of weeks, but have no time to ponder with a crucial first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Sporting CP on Tuesday night.

They will obviously travel to Portugal after an early training session on Monday. It remains to be seen whether Gabriel is involved after asking to be substituted late into yesterday’s Cup tie.

Saliba and Gabriel are essential to the Gunners’ prospects of winning silverware this campaign. Breaking the centre-back partnership for several games would be a huge cause for concern for Arsenal.

Gabriel’s absence would be a big blow for Tuesday’s European clash. If he is sidelined, Riccardo Calafiori should get the nod for the left centre-back position, partnering Saliba.

Cristhian Mosquera had a nervous outing yesterday, committing big defensive errors. We won’t be surprised if the Spaniard is dropped to the bench for the midweek encounter.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

The post "He felt something": Mikel Arteta confirms big Arsenal injury blow ahead of Sporting CP game first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.