Arsenal have suffered a massive defensive injury blow ahead of their crucial Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
With key defenders Gabriel Magalhães, Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori all sidelined, manager Mikel Arteta faces a serious selection dilemma as the Gunners approach a defining period of the season.
Gabriel Magalhães – Hamstring Injury
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Injury sustained: Early in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham
🔹 Details: Pulled up sprinting back to defend a counter-attack, immediately signaling he needed to be substituted.
🔹 Arteta’s update: "Gabi felt something in his hamstring, we don’t know how big that is."
🔹 Expected return: Doubtful for Real Madrid clash; could face an extended spell on the sidelines.
Jurrien Timber – Knee Injury
🔹 Injury sustained: During the Fulham match, after a clash of knees.
🔹 Details: Tried to continue but was eventually forced off.
🔹 Arteta’s update: "Jurrien was struggling very early in the game. He managed to continue but at some point, he couldn’t."
🔹 Expected return: Unknown – pending further assessment.
Riccardo Calafiori – Knee Injury
🔹
Injury sustained: While on international duty with Italy.
🔹 Details: Suffered a nasty slip and withdrew from the squad for further tests.
🔹 Arteta’s update: "It could have been much worse. Hopefully, it’s only a matter of weeks."
🔹 Expected return: May 2025
Ben White – Knee Injury
🔹
Injury sustained: In training before the Fulham game.
🔹 Details: Initially reported as a "little niggle," but further tests will determine the severity.
🔹 Arteta’s update: "Yesterday we tried, he wasn’t feeling right, so we decided not to put him in the squad."
🔹 Expected return: Unknown
Other Key Arsenal Injuries
🩹 Kai Havertz –
Hamstring surgery (Out for the season)
🩹 Gabriel Jesus –
ACL injury (Out for the season)
🩹 Takehiro Tomiyasu –
Knee surgery (Out for the season)
Boost: Bukayo Saka Returns
Despite the injury crisis, Bukayo Saka’s return to action provided a much-needed lift. The England international came off the bench and scored the winning goal against Fulham, marking his first minutes of 2025.
What This Means for Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
With a trip to Everton this weekend before the Champions League showdown against Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta faces a defensive puzzle. The Gunners may need to improvise at the back, relying on Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, and potentially shifting players out of position.
