Mikel Arteta could welcome back Gabriel Jesus against Fulham today, but the tidings have been less joyful for one of his other Gabriels.
The Arsenal striker was forced to go under the surgeon’s knife on the eve of the season to clean out the debris from an operation he underwent after picking up the injury with Brazil in Qatar at the World Cup in December.
But Arteta has had him out on the grass at London Colney all week.
“I was really happy,” the Spaniard said. “It was a big blow for him after the pre-season when he had to have another surgery.
“He’s looking really sharp. He trained the full week well. He’s ready to go. From the start? We’ll see.”
Things do not look so promising for Gabriel Maghalaes, who was a star performer in the Arsenal defence last season but has been relegated to just two brief cameo appearances from the bench in the Premier League fixtures so far.
The surprise experiment to use Thomas Partey as a right full-back with the freedom to join the midfield has seen the more versatile Ben White used at the heart of defence alongside William Saliba.
That in turn has sparked speculation that the 25-year-old defender may be off before the window closes – but Arteta has called him into his office this week to explain the reasons why, actually, he will be going nowhere.
“It is difficult for him, yes, but we have to focus on what is now and what is ahead and how we’re going to evolve that,” Arteta said.
“There will be different relationships. Gabby will play a lot of games, I’m sure. It’s about bringing the competition high and trying to make the team play better, better, better and win more games. That’s the purpose of all of us.
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“Of course I have explained to him why he’s not in the team- especially someone who has played a lot of minutes and games with us in the last year.
“I told him. He understands the reasons.
“Whether he agrees with it is something different. But the best way to do it is when you play, just tell me how blind and wrong I am.”
The situation is slightly complicated by the absence of the more defence-minded Takehiro Tomayasu on the left after his controversial second yellow card against Crystal Palace on Monday despite TV replays showing little contact.
But with the incident not being a straight red card, there is no scope for appeal.
“I would like to see a very proactive approach on that and do the same but we know that isn’t going to happen,” Arteta said.
“We had the report but I will keep that confidential.
“Every ref has the intention to have the best game and try to be as fair as possible and make the right decisions.
“We all make mistakes and when we do, apologising is the least you can do and try to improve and be better.”
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