Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that the loss of Gabriel Magalhaes for the rest of the season will not derail the team’s pursuit of Premier League and Champions League success. The Brazilian centre-back suffered a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Fulham, which will require surgery.
Arteta acknowledged the setback, but expressed pride in the team’s ability to adapt to injuries, citing the return of Bukayo Saka from a similar injury. Saka scored just seven minutes into his comeback against Fulham and is in line to start in Saturday’s trip to Everton.
“It was a tough one to digest because we just got Bukayo back and then we lost Gabi,” Arteta said. “But the team reacted like it has reacted all season. I’m really proud of that and we know that he’s going to be out for a while, so we need to find different solutions and keep competing the way we have been all season.”
Arteta emphasized that the team has the resources to cope with Gabriel’s absence, despite already being without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the season. Defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, and Jurrien Timber are also doubts for the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
“We’ve come so far and now we have the most important, beautiful part of the season,” Arteta said. “We have to react to those things, and that means that other players are going to have opportunities to play and the team has to find other ways. It is a big miss undoubtedly, but we have the resources to cope with that.”
With Saka’s return, Arteta is optimistic about the team’s prospects, but emphasized that the focus is on the next game against Everton. “He needs exposure and he’s going to have exposure,” Arteta said. “He played against Fulham and he felt really well, he scored a goal and he wants more. It is clear in the last two days that he wants more, is demanding more, and that’s a good sign.”
Arteta concluded, “But the biggest game for us is Everton. And the best way to prepare for Real Madrid is to do what we have to do to beat Everton.”
