Arsenal suffered a major setback after defender Gabriel Magalhaes was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.
The Brazilian centre-back had established himself as one of the most important players in Mikel Arteta’s defensive setup. His absence therefore came at a particularly difficult stage of the campaign.
Gabriel had formed a strong partnership in central defence and provided Arsenal with physical strength, aerial ability and leadership at the back.
The injury was especially damaging because Arsenal were preparing for a major Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
With the European competition entering its decisive stages, Arteta faced the difficult task of reorganising his defence without one of his most trusted players.
Gabriel’s contribution had extended beyond his defensive responsibilities. He was also a significant threat from set pieces and had developed into an important source of goals from dead-ball situations.
Arsenal had already been dealing with a demanding fixture schedule, making squad depth increasingly important.
The club would therefore have to rely on its other defenders to step up and fill the void left by the Brazilian.
For Gabriel, the focus would shift towards rehabilitation and recovery as he looked to return fully fit for the following campaign.
