Journalist Charles Watts has said that he feels Gabriel will not be fit to play in Arsenal’s game tonight after the defender picked up a recent injury.
The Gunners travel to Newcastle United knowing they have to win if they want to be ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur going into the final day of the season as they both hunt down a spot in the top four.
Worryingly, though, Gabriel came off early in the north London derby last week with a possible hamstring issue and so is a doubt for the game against the Magpies.
Will Gabriel play against Newcastle?
Yes
No
The latest news from Mikel Arteta is that fans will have to wait and see on the defender’s status. Watts, however, has claimed that he would be surprised if the Brazilian makes it – calling the notion a ‘pipe dream’.
Speaking on YouTube, he said: “Feels to me like a bit of a pipe dream that he might play, to be honest. But that’s just a hunch.
“You know, it might have just been purely precautionary that he came off. But the way he came off on Thursday night clutching his hamstring, you just don’t recover from that in a couple of days, surely, to be 100% fit.”
TIF thoughts on Gabriel and Arsenal…
In more positive news, the defender has at least been seen travelling with the squad up to Newcastle – though that does not mean he will be fit enough to play.
With Rob Holding suspended for the game and Ben White also a doubt, it really does look as though the Gunners will need Gabriel fit for this match.
A spot in the Champions League may well be all but decided by the result tonight. With that in mind, Arsenal fans will be praying Watts’ gut feeling is off the mark on this occasion.
In other news: ‘100 percent’ – Charles Watts drops interesting Sterling transfer claim at Arsenal