Mikel Arteta is still sweating on the fitness of key Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Everton.
The Gunners’ boss had been coy with regards to the Brazil international’s fitness up until Tuesday’s pre-match press conference ahead of last night’s 3-0 win over Monaco.
Gabriel has now missed his side’s last three games with what Arteta confirmed to be ‘a muscle injury’ but, according Mail Sport, Arsenal hope will be ready to make his return against the Toffees.
Amid a mounting injury crisis, Jakub Kiwior has deputised at centre-half while teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly was handed a chance to impress at left-back against Monaco.
The latest youngster off the Halen End Academy conveyor belt played a key role in Bukayo Saka’s opening goal and could feature against Everton with doubts still surrounding the availability of Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
‘Well, really proud moment,’ said Arteta, reflecting on the youngster’s first European start.
‘He’s one of our own, 18 years old. He makes his starting debut in the Champions League and he’s just a joy to watch him you know.
‘It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to give a chance to somebody, to start to change his career.
‘He certainly took the chance and it’s great that we can trust him, that he can play in this environment and on this level and I was really happy with his performance.
‘He’s good, he’s been in contention. In pre-season he opened our eyes to say I’m ready, the same as Ethan.
‘He feels comfortable in this environment, they can perform, they can compete which is important as well not just play and today he’s shown that he’s at that level.’
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