Arsenal defender could miss Champions League quarter-final after worrying injury update

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Gabriel faces a race against time to prove his fitness for Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting after suffering a knee injury during the club’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton.

The Brazilian centre-back was forced off in the second half of the Gunners’ shock 2-1 loss at the Emirates, with Shea Charles’ late winner sending the Championship side through to the semi-finals and ending Arsenal’s hopes of a quick return to Wembley.

Gabriel went down holding his left knee and was unable to continue, prompting William Saliba to replace him before Charles struck the decisive blow with five minutes remaining.

Arteta expresses concern

Speaking after the match, Mikel Arteta admitted his concern over the defender’s condition. “I don’t know – he felt something,” the Arsenal manager said, according to the Evening Standard. “Don’t know exactly what it is but we’re going to have to assess him. Obviously when a player is asking to be substituted, it’s never good news.”

The 26-year-old remained on the bench for the remainder of the match with ice strapped to his left leg, rather than heading straight down the tunnel – a potentially positive sign regarding the severity of the injury.

Previous fitness concerns

Gabriel’s latest setback comes after he was already carrying injury concerns heading into the Southampton clash. The defender had withdrawn from Brazil duty during the recent international break after complaining of pain in his right knee following the Carabao Cup final.

Arsenal and Brazil’s medical teams agreed it would be best for Gabriel to skip the two friendlies in the USA to manage his fitness, raising questions about whether the defender was fully ready for the FA Cup quarter-final.

The timing of this fresh injury could not be worse for Arteta’s side, who face a quick turnaround before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

With the Gunners having suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, Gabriel’s potential absence would represent another significant blow to their European ambitions. The Brazilian has been a crucial figure in Arsenal’s defence throughout the campaign, forming a solid partnership with Saliba at the heart of the backline.

Arsenal will now assess Gabriel’s condition over the next 48 hours to determine whether he can recover in time for the crucial Champions League fixture in Portugal.