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Mikel Arteta won’t imagine his unhealthy luck.
In the identical recreation as key participant Bukayo Saka scored on his long-awaited return from harm, the Arsenal supervisor misplaced one other in centre-back Gabriel earlier than their Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Actual Madrid subsequent week.
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The defender limped off within the first half of Tuesday’s 2-1 win over with a hamstring harm. So as to add to Arteta’s defensive worries, Jurrien Timber additionally needed to be withdrawn in opposition to Fulham with a knee drawback, whereas Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori had been dominated out of the sport with knee bother.
Gabriel has been one of many Gunners’ finest performers in a difficult season and team-mate Declan Rice acknowledged his worth to their Champions League possibilities.
“I do not know what’s occurred. I hope he is OK as a result of he is been arguably our greatest participant this season and we’d like him for giant matches and massive events,” mentioned Rice.
Arsenal’s possibilities of successful endure when Gabriel is out of the staff. The staff’s win share is 63.50% from the 159 video games he has performed since his Premier League debut in comparison with 40.90% within the 22 video games he has missed within the league throughout that point.