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Arsenal: Mikel Arteta provides injury update after Gabriel and Jurrien Timber forced off against Liverpool

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta provides injury update after Gabriel and Jurrien Timber forced off against Liverpool

Arsenal will have to wait to learn the severity of a potential injury to Gabriel, but Mikel Arteta revealed the defender “can’t run”.

Gabriel, along with Jurrien Timber, was both forced off in the second-half in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, further adding to the Gunners’ defensive concerns.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said on Gabriel’s withdrawal: “I don’t know [what the injury is] but he can’t run. I don’t know if it was his knee or his ankle. He is being assessed right now.”

Asked about Timber coming off on his return to the side, the Arsenal boss added: “I think we’ve done everything we could to accelerate that process.

“He was so willing. The team and the medical staff have done a great job. We gave ourselves the chance to compete.

“I don’t know the extent of the injury if there is one. The same with big Gabi.”

Arsenal were without the suspended William Saliba against Liverpool and Riccardo Calafiori was ruled out with injury, but Timber was fit to return at left-back for his first appearance since the win over PSG at the start of the month.

Arsenal led 2-1 at the break an impressive first-half display, but Gabriel was forced off early in the second period with what appeared to be an issue with his left knee. With 20 minutes remaining, Timber, having twice gone down, was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly with 15 minutes remaining, though that appeared to be a cramp problem.

Mohamed Salah equalised to earn a point for Liverpool, that goal coming down Arsenal’s left with Gabriel and Timber off the pitch.