Gabriel Magalhaes is unlikely to be fit to play against Preston North End(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Arsenal drop new Gabriel return hint after Mikel Arteta's Newcastle admission

by · football.london

Arsenal will be sweating over the fitness of Gabriel Magalhaes for Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash with Newcastle United.

The defender was forced off in last week's 2-2 draw with Liverpool and missed Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Preston North End. Mikel Arteta had confirmed earlier this week that the 26-year-old's injury was not as bad as first feared.

On Friday, the Gunners boss hinted that the Brazilian could be fit for the trip to St James' Park. "Yes it's good news," he said. "We have a training session today. If he's able to do that he'll be in the squad."

In the training session, Gabriel was not included in the photographs made public. However, in a clip posted on X, formerly Twitter, the centre-back can be seen in training wear alongside the rest of his teammates.

Following the tragic events in Valencia, the clip showed Arteta's players and staff observed a period of respect for those lost and affected. Captain Martin Odegaard is also seen at the end of the clip amid hope he will return from his ankle injury.

Odegaard suffered ankle ligament damage while away with Norway in September. He has been back in partial training for a few weeks now though and is edging closer to joining the rest of the squad.

He is, however, out for tomorrow's game and will instead hope to feature against Inter Milan. "Now is the stage when he’s going to start to do certain work with us," Arteta said.

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"Let’s see if he deals with pain if physically he’s able to compete. With the work he’s put in I would be surprised if when he’s back training with us we don’t say he’s ready."

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