Arsenal star Gabriel ‘in heated bust-up at six-a-side match’ | Football | Sport
Injured Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes reportedly found himself at the centre of a fiery confrontation during a six-a-side football match in London this week. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since the November international break after picking up an abductor injury whilst representing Brazil in a friendly.
On Tuesday evening, the centre-back was invited to spectate a small-sided game in Peckham, South London, organised between supporters of Brazilian club Botafogo. What started as a casual kickabout quickly turned sour when a reckless challenge left one participant writhing in pain on the artificial surface.
According to The Sun, Gabriel charged from the touchline to confront the culprit.
Video footage captured the former Lille defender unleashing a verbal tirade in Portuguese, though the confrontation remained non-violent.
«It was really unexpected. He didn’t look injured when he sprinted across the pitch to get involved,» a witness said. «I don’t know if he knew them personally but he seemed to just see red and fly off the handle.»
After the disturbance subsided, both teams opted to abandon the match for the evening.
Gabriel is now focusing on his rehabilitation and is targeting a comeback early next month.
His enforced absence, combined with that of regular centre-back partner William Saliba, has had a detrimental impact on Arsenal‘s form.
Mikel Arteta‘s injury-ravaged squad have dropped points in two of the four Premier League fixtures where the defensive pairing haven’t started alongside each other.
Arsenal welcome bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Saturday, with Jurrien Timber and either Piero Hincapie or Riccardo Calafiori expected to feature in central defence.
Saliba, however, is nearing a comeback.
«We have to wait and see,» Arteta revealed. «Yesterday we didn’t train, so we have an extra day between this afternoon, let’s see if he can be available or not.
«It remains the same. If you asked me for the Everton game, I think he will be fit; for tomorrow, I don’t know.»
Timber was absent from Wednesday’s commanding 3-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League following a knock. «Again, depends how he feels today,» Arteta commented regarding Timber.
«It was a knock that he picked (up) and he wasn’t feeling comfortable. So again, I think it’s a matter of days, but whether it’s tomorrow or not we’ll see.»
Concerning Declan Rice, another sidelined Arsenal player, the Gunners manager stated: «Let’s see how he is today. He was ill, that’s an illness, normally in a few days it gets resolved, but we have to wait and see.»
Regarding Leandro Trossard, Arteta reiterated: «Again, another one that is a matter of days. It sounds boring, but it’s the reality, so we don’t know.»
