Wenger’s Gabriel Update After Arsenal Suffer Another Injury Ahead Of Liverpool

Arsene Wenger has offered an update on Gabriel after Arsenal’s injury crisis deepened ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool.

The Brazilian defender was forced off during the final minute of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly win over Manchester City in Gothenburg on Sunday night.

Gabriel appeared to catch his studs in the turf while challenging for a loose ball and rolled his ankle as he collapsed on the floor in agony. The centre-back needed several minutes of treatment and was visibly upset as he left the field on a stretcher in tears.

Wenger has now been speaking to Arsenal.com and confirmed that it appears Gabriel has suffered ankle ligament damage and is set to travel back to London on crutches.

The Frenchman wouldn’t speculate over how long Gabriel will be out for but confirmed that the defender will at least miss Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Liverpool.

Wenger told Arsenal.com:

on Gabriel…
We have not even made a diagnosis in the medical room with our doctors or physios yet. I can’t tell you more. He’s in pain. Let’s hope the pain is not a sign of bad news. The only thing we have to know now is how big the damage is with his ligament.

on it happening two minutes into injury time…
I’ve never seen an intelligent accident, they always look stupid. We have to take that. He played the ball 100 per cent and I think he rolled his ankle, but I don’t know how it happened. It’s part of our game.

on Gabriel being out next week…
Yes. We are very short [in defence].

on losing another centre back…
Maybe he was a bit tired, I don’t know. Was his coordination a bit weaker, I don’t know. Was he locked in the grass with his studs… I have to speak to him. He’s just come out of a medical room and he’s not in a better state because he couldn’t even talk on the pitch.

on whether he will fly home with the team…
I think so, yes. Certainly on crutches.

on whether he will have a scan on Monday…
I don’t think he’ll have a scan tonight because we come back at midnight. I don’t think so.

Having watched the incident on television, the Gabriel injury looked extremely serious and I’d suspect he’ll be facing several weeks on the sidelines.

The injury heightens Arsenal’s need to bring in another centre-back as Wenger is already facing four months without Per Mertesacker while Laurent Koscielny is a major doubt to face Liverpool next weekend.