Arsenal have been left with the question why Gabriel Magalhaes started for Brazil in a friendly if there were concerns about his load management following an injury blow
When Carlo Ancelotti was asked if he could give any encouragement to Arsenal supporters as to the status of Gabriel Magalhaes, sadly, all he could offer was an apology and the clarification the 27-year-old had suffered an adductor issue.
Yet questions linger, because Brazilian journalist Natalie Gedra - reporting for Sky Sports - explained that the centre-half had warmed-up separately on the Friday training session.
This was done because there was a consciousness about the player's load management, having played so many games of late. The query to put forward, therefore, is that if this was the case, why would he start in a friendly match?
The 27-year-old had started the game well, making some key tackles and interceptions before going down in the Senegalese box after seemingly over-stretching in an action.
"Bad?" Ancelotti replied when asked for how bad the situation was by football.london. "I don’t know, he had a problem with his adductor, the medical staff have to check tomorrow.
"We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When players have an injury, I hope they can recover well and soon."
Gabriel missed the end of the previous season with a hamstring problem, which cost him inclusion in the run-in for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Jakub Kiwior came in for the Brazilian but has since left on loan to FC Porto. Arteta does, however, have several other options to call upon in his place.
Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on November 22 and might need to do so without their greatest threat in the box from set-pieces.
Piero Hincapie has featured at both left-back and left centre-half this season. While Cristhian Mosquera has also played next to William Saliba in a back two.
Riccardo Calafiori can also play in the role; however, he has suffered a hip problem preventing him from featuring for Italy during the international break.
It could mean Myles Lewis-Skelly finds a pathway into the team for a run of crucial games against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea when the international break concludes.
Mikel Arteta faces the press on Friday and, naturally, will be asked for an update when Gabriel returns to the Sobha Realty Training Centre this week. There will likely be uncomfortable questions about the player starting in a friendly if there were known concerns about his fitness.