Arteta admits 'we were all scared' as Gabriel injury scare overshadowed Everton win
Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal were genuinely frightened when Gabriel Magalhães went down injured during Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton at the Emirates, before the Brazilian got straight back up and scored the goal that sealed the three points.
Gabriel appeared to hurt his right knee while stretching to make a clearance early in the second half. His immediate reaction was concerning, signalling towards the bench before receiving treatment on the pitch, and for a few uncomfortable minutes it looked as though Arsenal might lose one of their most important players.
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Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
He was determined to continue, though, and what happened next showed exactly why Arteta values him so highly.
Arteta reveals the real source of the fear
Speaking after the match, Arteta explained that it wasn't necessarily Gabriel's fall itself that caused the greatest concern, but how the players around him reacted. As reported by the Evening Standard, the Arsenal manager said:
“Well, he's a clear example, when I'm talking about the mentality of the team, obviously the mentality of the team is the mentality of the individuals in the team. Gabi is a great example of that because we were all scared. Not because of the way he went down, but the reaction of the players that were next to him.”
He continued: “Immediately he says that he wants to continue and then he scores a goal to help us win the game. That's what we need from our players.”
It was quite a turnaround for the Brazilian, who went from looking unlikely to finish the match to heading home Arsenal's second goal in the 69th minute. He was outstanding at both ends of the pitch throughout the game.
Why Gabriel's fitness matters so much right now
With William Saliba still unavailable, Arsenal can hardly afford another setback at the back. Gabriel's partnership with Ezri Konsa has provided much needed stability in recent weeks, and both defenders getting on the scoresheet against Everton was an added bonus on top of a crucial three points.
Arteta's comments also point to something statistics cannot measure, the determination and mentality Gabriel brings to this Arsenal side. Playing on and scoring does not necessarily rule out a lingering issue, though, and there will be some relief inside the club that he was able to finish the match at all given the initial reaction from his teammates.
Arsenal's win moved them level on points with Manchester City, and keeping their defensive leader fit and available is likely to matter a great deal in the weeks ahead.
