Arsenal: Expert predicts how long Gabriel will miss after limping off during Brazil vs Senegal

Substituted immediately after the incident, Gabriel looked visibly distressed, prompting concerns of a potential groin issue as he clutched the upper part of his right thigh.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti commented post-match that he was uncertain about how serious the injury was and confirmed that additional evaluations would take place on Sunday.

He said: “Bad? I don’t know, he had a problem on his adductor, 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.”

Magalhaes and Brazil’s Casemiro in action with Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
As Mikel Arteta awaits updates from the medical examinations, injury analyst Physio Scout has weighed in on the possible nature of the issue.

Their evaluation noted that injuries located nearer to the hip tend to be more problematic, and while many athletes recover within one to three weeks, more significant damage could result in a longer absence.

“With groins and hamstrings, injuries closer to the hip (proximal) are generally more concerning than those further down the muscle,” they wrote.

“Most groin problems end up being minor, with players back in 1–3 weeks, but the fact that he’s feeling it higher up makes me more cautious here and raises the risk of a Grade 2+ injury.”

A Grade 2 strain might sideline Gabriel for three to six weeks. In contrast, a Grade 3 groin injury could keep him out for six to eight weeks or longer.

Check Out Physio Scout’s Full Breakdown Below: This development casts doubt over the Brazilian’s availability for Arsenal’s first fixture after the international break — a high-stakes clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

Following that, the Gunners face a challenging schedule including matches against Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Brentford, and Aston Villa.

Gabriel’s potential absence would be a significant setback for Arteta, given his consistent performances across the first 11 league games of the season.

Having played every available minute — 990 in total — he has contributed one goal and two assists, playing a crucial role in Arsenal’s set-piece strategy.

His standout displays have been instrumental in positioning Arsenal as frontrunners in the Premier League title race. The team currently leads the table with 26 points, maintaining a four-point cushion over Manchester City.

In Gabriel’s absence, Arteta may look to Cristhian Mosquera to step in, with Piero Hincapie also under consideration for the role.

Post-match revelations indicated that Gabriel had trained separately from the rest of the Brazil squad on Friday.

Sky Sports News reported that the coaching staff had been monitoring his workload due to his heavy match involvement in recent weeks.

Despite this, Ancelotti opted to start him, a decision that has sparked outrage among Arsenal supporters who viewed it as an avoidable gamble.

One fan wrote, “Trained separately from the squad to manage his load but went ahead and played him for over 80 minutes. Well done Ancelotti.”

Another was left equally exasperated, adding: “And they still played him from the start… horrible management.”

And an additional fan slammed the coaching staff, saying: “Absolutely insane that he played the game. Completely irresponsible from everyone involved.”

Other supporters were even more frustrated that Ancelotti had chosen to play Gabriel in a friendly, with nothing on the line for the Selecao.

A supporter wrote: “‘Manage his load’ but they still played him in a meaningless game.”

That was echoed by a final fan, who said: “I don’t understand why they played him then!? It’s a friendly match. If ANY player is struggling with any even minor injury why risk them? Especially at such a busy point in the season.”