Arsenal dealt major blow as Gabriel hobbles off with potentially season-ending injury

Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League chances were dealt yet another blow as Gabriel was forced off against Fulham. Meanwhile, fellow Gunners defender Jurrien Timber went off later in the second half of their 2-1 win with a knock. Gabriel was in apparent pain holding his leg against FulhamGetty It remains to be seen whether Timber’s knock is seriousGetty With less than 15 minutes played, the Gunners defender was holding the back of his leg with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Gabriel waved his hand in the air multiple times to signal his injury as play continued, with a Fulham corner bringing the action to a halt. Arsenal’s centre-back sat on the pitch and cut a pained expression before being substituted just moments later for Jakub Kiwior. It’s an injury that could spell the end of his season given there’s less than two months left of the season. Speaking on commentary for talkSPORT, former West Ham striker Dean Ashton said: “It’s a massive blow. “He and [William] Saliba are the best defence in the Premier League… his threat from set pieces as well. “I’d hate to have to play against Adama Traore and clearly it was too much for Gabriel when he turned.” They may have been dealt a further blow in the second half with Timber being replaced by Leandro Trossard. Having received lengthy treatment in the first half, Timber went down again in the 77th minute and was promptly substituted. It’s not clear whether this was a precautionary measure. And while Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are faint, the injuries are very untimely with the Gunners facing Real Madrid in the Champions League next week. Gabriel could miss the rest of the season with his injuryGetty Arsenal play host to Los Blancos next Tuesday before going to the Bernabeu eight days later for their quarter-final tie. A Premier League trip to a rejuvenated Everton comes before then on Saturday, live on talkSPORT. Gabriel and Timber could join teammates including Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on Arsenal’s list of long-term absences. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori have also struggled with fitness throughout the season, with Arsenal losing grip on top spot. Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans now face an anxious wait to see how long Gabriel, as well as Timber, will be sidelined for. The Brazilian missed just two Premier League matches earlier in the campaign with a knee issue. Bukayo Saka scoring seven minutes into his first appearance since December is a positive for ArsenalGetty He has once again been a reliable asset in the Arsenal defence but may now be highly-missed during the run-in. Despite his injury, the Gunners opened the scoring later on in the first half when Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off a Fulham man. Bukayo Saka, who came off the bench to make his first appearance since December due to a hamstring injury, added their second. Rodrigo Muniz netted in stoppage-time for Fulham but they were unable to pull off the comeback and take a point from the match.

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Arsenal dealt major blow as Gabriel hobbles off with potentially season-ending injury

Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League chances were dealt yet another blow as Gabriel was forced off against Fulham.

Meanwhile, fellow Gunners defender Jurrien Timber went off later in the second half of their 2-1 win with a knock.

Gabriel was in apparent pain holding his leg against Fulham

It remains to be seen whether Timber’s knock is serious

With less than 15 minutes played, the Gunners defender was holding the back of his leg with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Gabriel waved his hand in the air multiple times to signal his injury as play continued, with a Fulham corner bringing the action to a halt.

Arsenal’s centre-back sat on the pitch and cut a pained expression before being substituted just moments later for Jakub Kiwior.

It’s an injury that could spell the end of his season given there’s less than two months left of the season.

Speaking on commentary for talkSPORT, former West Ham striker Dean Ashton said: “It’s a massive blow.

“He and [William] Saliba are the best defence in the Premier League… his threat from set pieces as well.

“I’d hate to have to play against Adama Traore and clearly it was too much for Gabriel when he turned.”

They may have been dealt a further blow in the second half with Timber being replaced by Leandro Trossard.

Having received lengthy treatment in the first half, Timber went down again in the 77th minute and was promptly substituted. It’s not clear whether this was a precautionary measure.

And while Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are faint, the injuries are very untimely with the Gunners facing Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.

Gabriel could miss the rest of the season with his injury

Arsenal play host to Los Blancos next Tuesday before going to the Bernabeu eight days later for their quarter-final tie.

A Premier League trip to a rejuvenated Everton comes before then on Saturday, live on talkSPORT.

Gabriel and Timber could join teammates including Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on Arsenal’s list of long-term absences.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori have also struggled with fitness throughout the season, with Arsenal losing grip on top spot.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans now face an anxious wait to see how long Gabriel, as well as Timber, will be sidelined for.

The Brazilian missed just two Premier League matches earlier in the campaign with a knee issue.

Bukayo Saka scoring seven minutes into his first appearance since December is a positive for Arsenal

He has once again been a reliable asset in the Arsenal defence but may now be highly-missed during the run-in.

Despite his injury, the Gunners opened the scoring later on in the first half when Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off a Fulham man.

Bukayo Saka, who came off the bench to make his first appearance since December due to a hamstring injury, added their second.

Rodrigo Muniz netted in stoppage-time for Fulham but they were unable to pull off the comeback and take a point from the match.