Gabriel Magalhaes hands Mikel Arteta fresh Arsenal injury blow with setback...

Medical expert provides reassuring update for Arsenal fans after Gabriel injury blow.

Arsenal's hopes of welcoming their stars back from the international break unscathed from injuries took a hit overnight.

The Gunners' injury concerns in the first month of the season were dampened prior to the first international break when Thomas Partey was ruled out. The midfielder is expected to miss a number of weeks of action with a groin injury having missed the 3-1 win over Manchester United.

Mikel Arteta's injury worries could be about to get worse following Gabriel Magalhaes' outing for Brazil overnight. The centre-back partnered Paris Saint-Germain star Marquinhos in Fernando Diniz's backline in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.

Brazil won 5-1 to kickstart their qualification campaign in perfect fashion, yet Arsenal will be sweating on the fitness of Gabriel after he was replaced in the 85th minute and pictured with ice on his thigh on his national team debut.

Earlier in the game, the Gunners star was on the receiving end of a horror challenge from Bolivia's Diego Ibanez in the fifth minute. Ibanez's attempt to win the ball went completely wrong, striking Gabriel in the chest with his right knee.

Gabriel stayed on and played another 80 minutes in South America. Physical therapy doctor, Dr. Rajpal Brar, provided a brief update on his initial assessment of the injury. On Twitter, he wrote: "Thigh issue for Arsenal CB Gabriel Magalhaes. Unsure if it's contact related or a muscle pull."

He later provided another update: "Based on what multiple people have told me, sounds contact related. Overall good news."

Arsenal and Arteta will be hopeful that the 25-year-old will be fit enough to return to London Colney ahead of the return of Premier League football next weekend. The Gunners travel to Goodison Park to face Everton next Sunday with Brazil facing Peru on Wednesday morning.

Should he be used in his nation's second qualifier, Arsenal's concerns over his fitness will be very much eased.