Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal are ‘missing’ Gabriel Magalhaes after the Gunners dropped two points in a draw with Fulham on Sunday.
The Brazilian centre-back was not named in the matchday squad for the clash at Craven Cottage, which ended 1-1 following late VAR drama.
Gabriel has struggled with a knee issue in recent weeks, which also ruled him out of the midweek 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
Fellow defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko were omitted from the squad against Fulham too.
In his post-match press conference, Arteta was asked if Arsenal were ‘missing’ Gabriel and the Arsenal manager responded: ‘Yes.’
Arteta then added: ‘But I’m really pleased with the performance of Jakub [Kiwior] and we had to change the whole unit as well. We had Jakub there and Jurrien [Timber] on the left which we’ve never played before and Thomas [Partey] as a full back, and okay he does it.
‘Jorgi comes in and he was excellent. That’s it, they were not available and we have to respond to that and I’m very happy with the way the team did.’
Quizzed if Gabriel, Zinchenko and Calafiori will be back fit for the Champions League clash against Monaco on Wednesday, Arteta added: ‘I hope.
‘But it’s more a question for the doctors and physios to understand where we are.
‘We are missing a lot of players in the backline. The good thing is that whatever we put there they respond. They respond with a good attitude and performance.’
Arsenal were denied a late winner over Fulham with VAR ruling out Bukayo Saka’s 89th-minute goal because Gabriel Martinelli was offside in the build up.
‘That emotionally was tough because we were so happy and we really dug in to take it and it was taken away,’ Arteta said.
‘Gutted that we didn’t win it, because I think we deserved to win from the beginning to the end.’
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