Arsenal face a fresh injury scare, after Brazil confirmed Gabriel has withdrawn from the squad for upcoming friendly fixtures.

Team-mate Gabriel Martinelli had already been replaced in Dorival Junior’s squad due to the foot injury he picked up against Sheffield United, and now Gabriel has become the latest Arsenal star to leave the group, having suffered an unspecified injury.

Confirmation from the Brazilian FA came on Monday afternoon, with the Brazil manager naming Juventus centre-back Bremer as his replacement for friendlies this month against England and Spain.

“I had already communicated previously that we will work with a slightly more extensive list”, Dorival Junior explained.

“A pre-call — we can put it that way — and again, today, we had another casualty.

“Unfortunately, Gabriel Magalhães is uncalled. In his place, we are calling Bremer, from Juventus.”

Gabriel, 26, has made six appearances for Brazil since making his senior debut last year, and he scored his first international goal against Venezuela in October.

A virtual ever-present for Premier League leaders Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping the injury is nothing serious as the Gunners prepare for ten games to hunt their first league title in 2004.

Arsenal face a potentially decisive trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on March 31, in their first game back after the international break.

Arteta’s side then face Luton and Brighton, before the focus shifts to the Champions League and a quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich.