Why Gabriel Magalhaes has left Brazil squad after double Arsenal injury scare
03/22/2025 10:47 AM
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will return to north London earlier than planned after being ruled out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Argentina.
The Gunners centre-half, enjoying another sublime campaign at the heart of defence alongside William Saliba, played the full 90 minutes in Thursday's 2-1 victory over Colombia in Brasilia.
But the 27-year-old will have no role to play in next week's qualifier against Argentina in in Buenos Aires.
His absence is good news for Arsenal fans however with Gabriel serving a suspension after picking up a booking in the Colombia game.
Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes was also shown a yellow card in that game, also earning himself a one-match suspension for his country.
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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is also making the trip back to the UK ahead of schedule.
The shot stopper clashed heads with Davison Sanchez during Thursday's game and while he has not reported any further issues, will still follow Fifa's concussion protocols and miss his nation's next game.
Alisson will return to Merseyside with Liverpool back in action against Everton in the Merseyside derby on 2 April.
Arsenal meanwhile will be grateful to have Gabriel back unscathed ahead of their game against Fulham on 1 April.
But Mikel Arteta is already counting the cost of the international break with Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber also withdrawing from their respective squads early.
Calafiori suffered a knee injury while playing for Italy against Germany.
Initial reports in Italy suggest the 22-year-old could face two to three weeks on the sidelines, a timescale that could see him miss the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
Timber meanwhile sat out of the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Spain due to illness.
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman decided to send the versatile defender home ahead of their Nations League quarter-final second leg against the same opposition on Sunday.
Bukayo Saka meanwhile has been stepping up his return in training during the international break.
The winger has not played since undergoing hamstring surgery in late December but there is hope he will return to action following the international break.
