Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur in this weekend's North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium but the Premier League leaders will be without injured defensive powerhouse Gabriel, Mikel Arteta has confirmed
Everything you need to know from Mikel Arteta's pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal vs Tottenham, as the Premier League leaders prepare to get back down to their title charge
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Gabriel injury update: Mikel Arteta confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhães sustained an injury while on international duty with Brazil and will be sidelined for several weeks. He is scheduled for another scan next Wednesday, which will provide a much clearer timeline for his return to the pitch.
Wider injury issues and potential returns: Arteta expressed his hope that several key players, including Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard, might be available soon - but was keeping his cards close to his chest. He and the medical staff worked intensely during the international break, but final decisions on any possible involvement will only be made after the final training session.
Gabriel Jesus' fitness: Gabriel Jesus is making excellent progress in his rehabilitation, having trained fully with the team for almost two weeks now following his injury. While he looks sharp, the club plans to give him some exposure in internal games to regain full match fitness before he is fully relied upon.
Significance of the North London Derby: Arteta described the North London Derby as a uniquely special and ferocious rivalry where both clubs aim to "conquer" that part of the city. He views the immense passion and emotion from the home fans as a "superpower" that the team must harness with their own commitment on the field.
Assessment of Tottenham: The manager acknowledged that Thomas Frank has instilled a clear, new identity in the Tottenham squad and believes they have truly earned their position in the league table. He expects a very tough game, particularly highlighting their impressive away record, and stressed that Arsenal will need a top-level performance to win.
Eberechi Eze: Arteta expressed his pride and happiness that Eze chose to join Arsenal over other interested clubs - notably Spurs - during the summer, calling it a good sign. He believes there is still a lot more to come from the England international, noting that as he settles and builds connections with teammates, his natural talent will result in an even bigger impact on the team.
IN FULL: Read everything Mikel Arteta said in its entirety on our sister website, Football.London
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