Arsenal have confirmed that Brazilian centre-back Gabriel will miss the rest of the season as he prepares to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old defender was forced off in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
A key figure in Mikel Arteta’s backline, Gabriel has been instrumental this campaign, starting 28 of the club’s 30 Premier League games and playing a pivotal role in securing the best defensive record in the league with just 25 goals conceded.
In a statement, the club revealed, “Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.”
Arsenal hope to have him back in action ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, but his absence could pose a challenge for the Gunners as they continue their domestic and European push.
Statistics from Premier League Injuries highlight Gabriel’s importance to the team. Arsenal boast a 63.5% win rate in the 159 Premier League matches he has played, a stark contrast to the 40.9% win rate in the 22 games he has missed.
His injury marks the 119th hamstring issue in the Premier League this season, averaging four such injuries per round of fixtures
. That figure continues a worrying trend, with last season’s total of 163 being the highest in the past five years.
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by 12 points with eight games remaining. They also have a major European test ahead as they prepare to face reigning champions Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are scheduled to visit the Emirates on April 8 (20:00 BST), with the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu set for April 16 (20:00 BST).
