Mikel Arteta delivers cryptic three-word message on Gabriel Magalhaes injury vs West Ham

Mikel Arteta has provided the latest on the fitness of Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with West Ham.

The Brazilian scored in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Sporting CP, but was forced to come off early in the match. Speaking after the game Arteta admitted that this had been an enforced change rather than a tactical one.

“We don’t know (if Gabriel has an injury),” Arteta said. “We had to make the change because he was feeling some discomfort. I was about to make the change for Raz [Raheem Sterling], poor thing, I couldn’t make the sub. We had to get him out.”

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Gabriel has been a near-ever present for Arsenal this season starting every Premier League and Champions League match they have played. Arteta though admitted there is a chance that the 26-year-old could be set to lose that record this weekend.

"Not a lot because we have another training session," he said when asked about the fitness of his squad ahead of their trip to West Ham. "We have to see how the boys are today. A few weren’t able to train yesterday, but hopefully yes today. We will have to wait and see.

When pressed on Gabriel he added: "Wait and see. (I'm not giving you more) because I can’t. It’s not that I don’t want to."

Jakub Kiwior is the main contender to replace Gabriel with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White out for the foreseeable with respective knee injuries. Oleksandr Zinchenko could come in at left back with Riccardo Calafiori sliding in to the middle as well.

Elsewhere Arsenal have a clean bill of health for Saturday’s derby at the London Stadium. Kieran Tierney could be in line to make his first Premier League matchday squad of the season after returning from injury in Lisbon.