Why did Arsenal defender Gabriel withdraw from the Brazil squad?

In a setback for both Arsenal and the Brazilian national team, defender Gabriel has withdrawn from the Brazil squad due to injury, as confirmed by the Brazilian Federation.

Who Replaces Gabriel in Brazil squad?

The news was disclosed by Brazil’s head coach Dorival Junior, who provided no specific details regarding Gabriel’s injury or its severity.

The 26-year-old, who has earned six caps for Brazil, featured prominently for Arsenal in their recent Champions League victory over Porto, playing the entire 90 minutes.

Gabriel’s withdrawal comes ahead of Brazil’s upcoming friendlies against England and Spain, prompting Dorival Junior to enlist Juventus defender Gleison Bremer as a replacement.

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Dorival Junior Comments on Gabriel’s Situation

Expressing disappointment at the injury setback, Dorival emphasized the necessity of working with a slightly expanded squad to mitigate such occurrences.

“I had already communicated previously that we will work with a slightly more extensive list,” Said Dorival.

The Brazilian Boss further added,

“A pre-call — we can put it that way — and again, today, we had another casualty. Unfortunately, Gabriel Magalhães is uncalled. In his place, we are calling Bremer, from Juventus.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be eager for Gabriel’s injury not to be severe, especially with crucial fixtures on the horizon, including a potentially decisive clash against Manchester City on March 31.

Additionally, the Gunners are slated to face Luton and Brighton in the Premier League before venturing into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich.

Gabriel’s absence from the Brazil squad raises concerns for both club and country, particularly considering his significant contributions to Arsenal’s defensive line and his recent goal-scoring prowess for the national team against Venezuela.