Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has been ruled out for the rest of the season after the club confirmed he requires hamstring surgery.
The Brazilian sustained the injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, forcing him to be substituted in the first half.
The 27-year-old has been a key figure for the Gunners this season, starting 28 of their 30 Premier League matches and contributing to their league-best defensive record of just 25 goals conceded.
Arsenal announced that Gabriel aims to return in time for the start of the 2025-26 campaign. “Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season,” the club stated.
The absence of Gabriel could prove costly for Arsenal, as statistics from Premier League Injuries show a significant drop in the team’s win percentage when he is unavailable. Arsenal have won 63.5% of the 159 games Gabriel has played, compared to just 40.9% of the 22 he has missed since his league debut.
This injury adds to a worrying trend in the Premier League, with Gabriel’s hamstring issue marking the 119th such injury of the current season—an average of four per round of matches. Last season saw 163 hamstring injuries, the highest number recorded in five years, according to Premier Injuries.
Arsenal remain second in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with eight matches left to play.
However, their focus will now shift to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they face reigning champions Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will visit north London on 8 April, before hosting the second leg at the Bernabeu on 16 April.
