Revealed: Arsenal key player absent from training ahead of Leicester clash
Match

Revealed: Arsenal key player absent from training ahead of Leicester clash

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes

Gabriel was absent from training on Saturday as Arsenal made final preparations for their Premier League clash against Leicester.

Football Insider has learned from a Gunners source that the Brazilian defender is struggling with a muscular injury and has emerged as a major doubt for Sunday's top-of-the-table showdown.

Gabriel's possible absence is a major blow for Arsene Wenger, who was initially planning on pairing the 24-year-old with first-choice centre-back Laurent Koscielny in a bit to combat Leicester's speedy counter-attacks.

Per Mertesacker is now set to return to the team after missing Arsenal's last three matches, the first through a one-match suspension following his red card against Chelsea last month.

Training pictures released by the club on Saturday didn’t feature Gabriel as he’s struggling to be fit for the game against Claudio Ranieri's team, who are currently top of the Premier League table and five points clear of Arsenal.

This would have been a fourth consecutive start for Gabriel, something he’s managed just one other time since signing for Arsenal in January of last year.

Wenger was pictured deep in discussion with Mertesacker and Koscielny in training on Saturday in a possible indication they are to be paired together at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal
Per Mertesacker
Gabriel
Leicester City
www.footballinsider247.com