Arsenal fans face a nervous wait for an injury update on key defensive duo William Saliba and Gabriel, with both set for a spell on the sidelines.
Since Saliba’s arrival at the Emirates, Mikel Arteta’s side have played just one Premier League game without both him and Brazilian defender Gabriel in the lineup.
The pairing has become one of the most reliable and formidable in world football.
But the Gunners must do without both stars for at least the next few games, after Saliba’s surprise absence this weekend.
The Frenchman was expected to start Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In his absence, the league leaders struggled against a 10-man opposition.
A Mikel Merino goal rescued a point after Trevor Chalobah’s opener for Chelsea.
Arsenal will feel it was two points dropped, however.
And Saliba’s late withdrawal leaves manager Mikel Arteta with neither of his first-choice centre-backs – at a crucial stage of the season.
We come from behind to earn a point at Stamford Bridge. pic.twitter.com/efLgHAahdm
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 30, 2025
Arsenal Face Nervous Wait For Saliba And Gabriel Injury Update
William Saliba is one of the first names on Arsenal’s team sheet.
He had been expected to start for the Gunners in Sunday’s London derby at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, he was absent entirely from the match-day squad.
Arteta later revealed that a knock picked up in training on Saturday had ruled the Frenchman out.
The manager offered few details, though. He said only that Saliba would undergo further tests on Monday to determine the full extent of his injury.
“I think he has another test tomorrow to see the extent of that feeling, that sensation that he had, then we’ll know more,” Arteta explained.
Saliba’s exact return date is therefore unknown. Arsenal fans are therefore in limbo as they wait for news on one of their key men.
And the 24-year-old’s absence is made all the more painful by the continued injury of defensive partner Gabriel.
Arsenal are without Gabriel and Saliba for the first time since May this year 🤕❌
They still managed a 2-1 win over Southampton back then 👀 pic.twitter.com/YZ9lYzy0nC
— LiveScore (@livescore) November 30, 2025
The Brazilian picked up an adductor issue with his national side in last month’s friendly against Senegal.
Early reports suggested Gabriel would be out for “weeks”, with Arteta confirming after Sunday’s draw that the defender was making slow but steady progress.
“With Gabi, there are still some weeks to go,” he said.
Gunners fans can therefore expect to see Gabriel back at some point towards the end of December, possibly early January.
That leaves Arsenal without the backbone of their defence, during the busiest and most important period of the season so far.
With them only five points clear of Manchester City after dropping points at Chelsea, the league leaders must hope their squad depth is sufficient to navigate such a crippling double injury blow.
Arsenal Boosted By Return Of Some Key Players
With Gabriel and Saliba out, Arteta turned to summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié.
The pair were thrown in together in a heated derby, and performed well in securing a point.
But Arsenal were visibly less solid at the back, and their organisation has taken a hit.
The timing of this disruption could not be much worse, either.
Having successfully navigated a demanding week that featured clashes with Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the Gunners face a relentless run into Christmas.
Their upcoming schedule includes Brentford, Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Wolves, Everton and Crystal Palace, with eight games in 27 days across December.
Arsenal’s next six fixtures:
Brentford (h)
Aston Villa (a)
Club Brugge (a)
Wolves (h)
Everton (a)
Crystal Palace (h)— afcstuff (@afcstuff) November 30, 2025
With little opportunity for rest, a lot will be asked of their stand-in defensive duo.
The good news, though, is that several key men are returning at just the right time for Arsenal.
Viktor Gyokeres made his comeback off the bench at Stamford Bridge after a hamstring problem.
And last week another Arsenal injury boost saw two more stars back in training.
Gabriel Jesus was named in the match day squad on Sunday for the first time since January.
And skipper Martin Ødegaard also continued building his minutes after a recent issue.
Long-term absentee Kai Havertz is also nearing a return after knee surgery. Arteta has been optimistic about his progress, suggesting a possible return against Brentford or Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard’s muscle issue – picked up against Bayern in midweek – appears relatively minor.
These boosts, however, cannot fully offset the absence of the club’s top centre-backs.
How Long Will Arsenal Be Without Gabriel And Saliba?
As for how long Arsenal must do without their ideal defensive partnership, that remains unclear.
Provided Saliba’s knock is just that and not something more sinister, he should be back soon.
But until medical confirmation has offered more clarity, it will be a nervy wait.
As for Gabriel, it appears he will remain out for much of December, possibly longer.
Arsenal could therefore be unable to name their first-choice pairing until the new year.
With an unforgiving schedule and some huge games ahead, this will severely test their resilience.
But if Mikel Arteta’s side wish to prove their title credentials and finally go one better than they have done, they must learn to adapt.
These are the sort of set-backs that champion teams overcome.
