Arsenal: update on Gabriel’s injury delivered by Mikel Arteta before West Ham clash

Mikel Arteta is unsure whether Arsenal defender Gabriel will be fit for Saturday’s Premier League London derby against West Ham.

The Brazilian centre-back was forced to withdraw from Tuesday night’s 5-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP in Portugal after complaining of feeling unwell.

Gabriel – who scored Arsenal’s third goal in a decisive win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade with a close-range header just before half-time – was replaced by Jakub Kiwior six minutes from time after ‘Arteta was initially expected to send Raheem. Sterling before having to change his plans.

Speaking after the match in Lisbon, Arteta said: “We don’t know [if Gabriel is okay]because he said he felt some discomfort.

Uncertainty: It remains to be seen whether Arsenal defender Gabriel will be fit to face West Ham (REUTERS)Uncertainty: It remains to be seen whether Arsenal defender Gabriel will be fit to face West Ham (REUTERS)

Uncertainty: It remains to be seen whether Arsenal defender Gabriel will be fit to face West Ham (REUTERS)

“I was about to replace poor Raz (Sterling), but I couldn’t make the substitution – and we had to take him (Gabriel) off.”

Arsenal are next in action when they travel to West Ham on Saturday evening and Arteta was particularly coy when asked for a further update on Gabriel on Friday morning.

“Wait and see,” he said of the defender’s chances of playing at the London Stadium.

Asked about news from other Arsenal teams, Arteta said: “Not much because we have another training session [on Friday]. We need to see how the boys are doing. A few couldn’t train.

Arteta did not specify the identities of the Arsenal players unable to train at London Colney on Thursday, with defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu currently their only confirmed injury absentees following Kieran Tierney’s return to the squad. the day in Lisbon after five months of absence with a hamstring problem.

More to follow

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