While there is growing buzz about Gabriel Magalhães potentially returning to the Arsenal squad for today’s clash against Brighton (Saturday, December 27, 2025), official reports from Mikel Arteta’s final pre-match briefing suggest a more cautious approach.
The Brazilian center-back has been sidelined for the last nine matches with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty in November. While some "insider" reports suggest he might travel with the team to the Emirates today to boost morale, his actual involvement on the pitch remains a major question mark.
The "Arteta Update": Rehab vs. Return
During his Boxing Day press conference, Mikel Arteta was optimistic but realistic about Gabriel's fitness:
The Progress: Gabriel has reportedly stepped up his rehabilitation over the Christmas period and is "stable" in his recovery.
The Training Hurdle: Arteta admitted that as of Friday morning, Gabriel had not yet rejoined full team training.
The Quote: "We have to wait and see again. He hasn't trained yet... hopefully we get him back as soon as possible because we know the situation we have in the backline."
Arsenal’s Defensive "Crisis" Today
If Gabriel doesn't make the final matchday squad, Arteta faces a significant selection headache, as the Gunners are currently
missing three of their primary defenders:
Gabriel Magalhães: Hamstring (Major doubt/Out).
Ben White: Hamstring (Confirmed Out until mid-January).
Cristhian Mosquera: Ankle (Confirmed Out).
Piero Hincapié: Shoulder (Game-time decision/Major doubt).
Predicted Backline vs. Brighton: With the center-back ranks depleted, Arteta is expected to rely on a makeshift four:
RB: Jurriën Timber
CB: William Saliba
CB: Riccardo Calafiori (Moving from LB to cover central defense)
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly or Jakub Kiwior
The "Havertz Boost"
While Gabriel's return might be delayed until the Aston Villa game on December 30,
the squad has received a major boost elsewhere. Kai Havertz is back in full training for the
first time since August and is expected to be featured on the bench today.
The Verdict: Gabriel being "featured in the squad" likely refers to him being part of the traveling group or a late fitness test. However, starting him without a single full training session would be a massive gamble by Arteta.