Gabriel and Timber Face Fitness Tests Ahead of Real Madrid Tie

Mikel Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover the extent of injuries to key players Gabriel and Timber ahead of Arsenal's crunch Champions League tie against Real Madrid.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes may miss the upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid due to a hamstring issue. The Brazilian defender was forced to leave the pitch 15 minutes into the Premier League match against Fulham at Emirates Stadium, sparking concerns about his availability for the crucial European tie.

Gabriel's injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for Arteta, who has had to contend with several long-term layoffs of key players throughout the season. The Arsenal manager will be anxiously awaiting the results of Gabriel's assessment, scheduled for Wednesday, to determine the extent of the injury.

Dutch full-back Jurrien Timber is also a doubt for the Real Madrid match after being substituted in the second half of the Fulham game due to a knee problem. Arteta expressed concern about Timber's condition, stating that the player had been struggling early in the game but managed to continue before eventually being forced to come off.

Arteta provided an update on both players' conditions after the match, saying, “Gabby felt something in his hamstring, we don't know how big that is. Jurrien was struggling very early in the game, he managed to continue but at some point he couldn't.” The Arsenal manager will be hoping that the assessments on Wednesday will bring some positive news regarding the availability of his two injured players.

Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration over Arsenal's alarming defensive injury crisis, revealing that the team has suffered four defensive injuries within the space of just a week. The latest setbacks have further depleted Arteta's options ahead of crucial fixtures, including the Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid.

Gabriel was forced off with an apparent leg injury early in Arsenal's match against Fulham.

The Gunners face Real Madrid next week. pic.twitter.com/UkVFPJ5ZFr

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Arteta confirmed that 22-year-old Riccardo Calafiori picked up an injury while on international duty with Italy, adding to the team's defensive woes. Meanwhile, right-sided full-back Ben White, who has struggled with injuries throughout the season, is once again sidelined. When asked if he had ever experienced such an extensive injury crisis before, Arteta candidly replied, “No... but it is what it is.”

The injury situation at Arsenal is particularly dire, with several key players ruled out for an extended period. Full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are also facing lengthy layoffs due to hamstring and cruciate ligament injuries, respectively. With the Champions League offering Arsenal their most realistic chance of silverware this season, the team's injury crisis could not have come at a worse time.

Arsenal faces a challenging schedule ahead, with an away trip to Everton on Saturday followed by the highly anticipated Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium on April 8. As Arteta navigates this injury crisis, he will be hoping that his team can muster the resilience and depth to overcome their challenges and secure a crucial victory against Real Madrid.