Arsenal will be without the services of defender Gabriel for at least eight weeks after having sustained a knee injury during the final game of the Premier League season.
The Brazilian centre-back was stretchered off in the second period after he extended his knee while challenging for a ball with Everton’s Enner Valencia.
Following the 3-1 win versus the Toffees, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirmed that the injury was ‘serious’ and his player could be out for an extended period of time.
Sky Sports News HQ has now added to the story to confirm that the 26-year-old may miss a major chunk of pre-season after he suffered a medial ligament injury which would require a recuperation period of around six to eight weeks.
BREAKING: @Arsenal defender @gpaulista5 out up to eight weeks with medial knee ligament injury. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/lXd7JZNAH4
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 24, 2017
Gabriel’s injury is likely to be a huge blow ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea as the club are already without skipper Laurent Koscielny, who received a straight red card for his rash tackle on Valencia last weekend.
Shkodran Mustafi has yet to recover from his concussion, and this could potentially see Pep Mertesacker partner Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal in a back three.
The ‘Big German’ has earned just 36 minutes of first-team action all season, and he could be vulnerable to the Blues’ attack which will involve the likes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
Arsene Wenger’s side will seek to end their season on a high with a Cup win on Saturday after having failed to secure Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years.
