Overview
- Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a thigh injury on Brazil duty and, after further assessments in London, is expected to be out for at least four weeks with some reports suggesting the absence could extend into January.
- The centre-back is likely to miss Sunday’s meeting with Tottenham and subsequent clashes in the Champions League and Premier League, a significant blow for a defence that has conceded just five league goals in 11 matches.
- Arsenal are weighing replacements alongside William Saliba, with Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié in contention and the option to shift Riccardo Calafiori or Ben White if required.
- The Premier League has appointed Michael Oliver to officiate the derby, a decision drawing attention given his past overturned red card against Myles Lewis‑Skelly that PGMOL chief Howard Webb later said should not have been issued.
- Arsenal’s wider injury picture remains mixed, with Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz still uncertain, while Gabriel Jesus has been pictured back in first-team training though not yet cleared for a return.