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GABRIEL MAGALHAES has become the latest Arsenal player to fall foul of injury.
The defender was forced off the pitch during the Sunday afternoon 2-2 draw between the Gunners and Liverpool at the Emirates.
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Mikel Arteta’s defensive options had already been depleted with injuries to Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and the suspension of William Saliba.
However, following a second-half tussle with Darwin Nunez, Gabriel appeared to feel something and was then seen grimacing.
He then fell to the floor in pain before receiving treatment to try and help him to carry on.
But it proved to be ineffective, and Gabriel was taken off through injury in the 54th minute and replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
The knock was reported to be a knee injury sustained after it was jolted during his duel with Nunez.
Footage of Gabriel while receiving treatment saw him holding his left knee, seemingly confirming this assessment as the club doctor also checked for a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.
He was able to walk off the pitch and down the tunnel, but could now face weeks on the sideline.
If Gabriel has suffered an MCL injury, then the amount of time he will miss will depend on the grade of the blow.
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A grade 1 issue will heal within 1-3 weeks while a grade 2 could take between four and six weeks and a grade 3 will take at least six with proper treatment.
Jurrien Timber then added to these problems when he was replaced by teen Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 75th minute after the Dutchman was also forced to the floor with injury and received treatment.
Gabriel returned to the side of the pitch later on to see out the remainder of the match.
While Arteta will see the return of Saliba following his one-game suspension, Calafiori, Tomiyasu and Tierney remain out.
Arsenal were also dealing with knocks to Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka before the Liverpool game.
However, star player Saka was deemed fit enough to play before he opened the scoring with a vicious close-range shot after ten minutes.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored from a set-play to level the score.
Arsenal ratings vs Liverpool
ARSENAL lost further ground in the title race with a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s side are a top team, but it will still frustrate Mikel Arteta that his team couldn’t clinch all three points having twice led the match.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Arsenal players…
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Very little he could do for Liverpool’s equaliser, forced to stay on his line from the flicked-on corner, and the same goes for Mohamed Salah’s tap in from a speedy counter.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Kept Salah quiet for the majority and proved his worth with ball at feet, but starting him was clearly a risk as he hobbled off late on.
BEN WHITE – 7
He may have been at centre back but his telepathy with Saka remained, curling a peach of a ball over the top for the opener and remained solid even when those around him chopped and changed.
GABRIEL – 7
Missed his centre-back partner but did well until he worryingly limped off. No surprise that Salah and Darwin Nunez found space when he was absent.
THOMAS PARTEY – 8
Was targeted in his unnatural position within the first 30 seconds but held his ground for the most part. One of Arsenal’s best players.
MIKEL MERINO – 8
A stray touch gifted Salah a great chance to score before getting a bang to the same shoulder that kept him out at the start of the season. And then, after a so-so performance, he steps up with a thumping header just before the break to regain the lead.
DECLAN RICE – 8
Did the nitty-gritty very well in the middle of the pitch with some crucial interceptions and timely tackles. Carried on covering every blade of grass until the very last.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Drifted in and out of the game as a floating 10 and striker but got stuck in when needed and pressed like a rabid dog. Still, was quiet given his recent form.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Lively enough without creating too many clear-cut chances in the first half. Unlucky not to win a penalty after being hauled down by Ibrahima Konate.
BUKAYO SAKA – 9
Injury? What injury? His hamstring seemed right as rain as he cruised in behind Andy Robertson, cutting it back through the full-back’s legs and firing into the roof of the net.
Was understandably taken off in the second half with a need to protect him going into a hectic period of the season.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Given freedom to roam and drop deep. Missed a sitter in the box after Martinelli’s penalty shout but lacked the service via crosses to really be effective in the first half.
Remained a physical nuisance after the break but never had that one golden opportunity.
SUBS:
JAKUB KIWIOR (GABRIEL, 54) – 6
Impressive to come in out of the cold to stay firm, but again, his work with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (TIMBER, 76) – 6
Caught out of position for Liverpool’s late leveller but showed signs of real maturity too.
GABRIEL JESUS (SAKA, 85) – N/A
ETHAN NWANERI (MARTINELLI, 85) – N/A
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But the hosts responded with a free-kick of their own as Declan Rice’s superb free-kick was headed home by Mikel Merino shortly before half-time, and then confirmed following a lengthy VAR check for offside.
Liverpool equalised for a second time in the 81st minute through Mohamed Salah.
Arsenal did get the ball in the net through Gabriel Jesus in injury time, but the goal was ruled out for a foul earlier in the move.
The result leaves Liverpool a point behind Manchester City at the top of the table, while Arsenal are now five adrift of the league leaders.
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