Arsenal warned that they will lose three things as a result of Gabriel injury

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is set for a spell on the sidelines due to an injury, with the Gunners set to miss a large threat in both boxes in the coming weeks of the season.

Arsenal have been dealt a blow over the international break as they face a spell without Gabriel Magalhaes in the side. The defender picked up a thigh injury in Brazil’s friendly match with Senegal at Emirates Stadium, limping off the pitch in quite some discomfort.

Reports have stated that Gabriel could miss anywhere from one month to two months through injury, causing quite a dilemma for Mikel Arteta. With the North London Derby coming up, there is an immediate loss, even with quality options such as Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera available to replace him.

Gabriel has been a vital part of the team, offering a threat in both boxes for the opposition and taking games by the scruff of the neck. Without him, former Premier League striker Darren Bent has warned Arsenal that they will be missing three key attributes moving forward.

When asked about which areas Gabriel will be a big miss in, he said on talkSPORT: “Set pieces, personality, leadership, of course.” It will be a huge blow for the Gunners but Bent believes that they have to keep moving forward, owing to their large squad.

“It’s going to be difficult, but you’ve got to get on with it,” he continued. “You’ve got to rise above it and Arsenal have got Mosquera, who has been very good, Hincapie, Calafiori can play left-sided centre-half, so there are options there.”

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Gabriel is just one of several Arsenal injuries that will challenge the management of Arteta, who faces a fixture crunch over the festive period. The head coach is set to be without Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for a little bit longer, though there is an expectation that they all aren’t too far away from finding fitness again.

The key test will be how the side manages through the next three fixtures in particular. The North London Derby is up next, a match that Gabriel, in particular, has a knack for performing well in.

That clash is the kind that needs the experienced heads with leadership tendencies to step forward, and even though Tottenham have injuries of their own, Arsenal will feel aggrieved to be without Gabriel. Then there is a Champions League tie with Bayern Munich, who have traditionally got the better of the Gunners, setting up a tough test.

It doesn’t get much easier after that, with another London derby coming out the other side of that, with Arsenal taking on rivals Chelsea. If Arteta can get his squad out of the other side of those fixtures, then the injury returns will only strengthen the side even further.

For now, though, the emphasis is on finding solutions to replace the key stars who will be missing some of the biggest fixtures in Arsenal’s season.