Arsenal Injury Update: Will Key Defenders Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori Be Available Against Fulham?

Arsenal Injury Update: Will Key Defenders Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori Be Available Against Fulham?

Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori set to make their return for the Gunners in the match against Fulham

Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta, has indicated that both Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori are expected to rejoin the squad for the upcoming Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday.

Neither player participated in the recent match against Manchester United, having sustained injuries during last weekend’s 5-2 victory over West Ham United.

There were initial worries regarding a possible head injury for Gabriel, which could have sidelined him for an extended period.

However, Arteta clarified that a different issue led to the Brazilian’s substitution at halftime against West Ham.

Calafiori was also substituted early in the second half at the London Stadium, but he is anticipated to be available for selection against Fulham.

“Gabi was a significant risk to play today because he felt discomfort against West Ham. Sunday is a possibility for Riccardo as well; we will assess how he responds,” Arteta stated to the media following the match against Manchester United.

Gabriel and Calafiori Set to Return for Arsenal’s Clash with Fulham.

In their absence, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko started against Manchester United, while defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba contributed goals, leading Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over the Red Devils.

This win brought Arsenal’s points total to 28 from 14 matches, placing them third in the Premier League, tied on points with Chelsea and seven points behind league leaders Liverpool.

“Very pleased. It was a special evening, celebrating 100 games in this remarkable stadium against a team with such a rich history,” Arteta remarked after the match on Wednesday night.

The manner in which we performed, particularly after making some adjustments for the second half, showcased our dominance and convincing play.

We only faced a significant challenge when David [Raya] had to make a save following a careless throw-in, which highlights the many positives from the match.

At half-time, our focus is not on the scoreline but rather on our own performance. We aim to maintain our current level and seek ways to secure victory.

The team truly deserves another win today, and while we cannot control the actions of our opponents, it is evident each week how challenging it is for all teams, even those that are winning.

Arsenal once again proved to be a significant threat from set pieces against Manchester United, scoring both of their goals from corners. Arteta emphasized the importance of being “very effective from every angle.”

“We require that level of effectiveness. Our goal is to be dangerous and impactful from all positions and phases of play.

We have trained for this. While we were unable to score from open play today, unlike our previous matches against West Ham and Sporting [Lisbon], the team possesses the belief that we can threaten the opponent from any angle and find ways to score.

Today, we capitalized on two set pieces, consistently posing a threat from corners,” he noted.

“Our strategy involves using inverted wingers, which allows them to frequently move inside.

When they do, it creates space for the full-backs, the midfielders, and the forwards, enabling us to exploit the flanks.

We must analyze every aspect of the opponent’s play to identify their weaknesses and capitalize on them.

“Last year, we set a record for the most goals scored in the history of this club, not solely due to set pieces but because of our overall approach.

We aim to foster individual brilliance and create magical moments, allowing many players to score their own goals.”

We have the ability to score from quick transitions, prolonged counterattacks, and when facing slow build-up plays.

We must also capitalize on restarts and seize opportunities to exploit the opposition.

It is essential to optimize every phase of play, continuously refine our strategies, and strive for improvement.

Following their match against Fulham, Arsenal will play three consecutive home games, starting with a Champions League encounter against Monaco on December 11, followed by Premier League matches against Everton and Crystal Palace in rapid succession.