Arsenal may be about to get a boost on the injury front after Gabriel took to social media to reassure fans that his injury ‘is not a big problem’.

The Brazilian defender went down in agony in stoppage time of Sunday’s 3-2 win against Manchester City in Gothenburg and required six minutes of treatment before leaving the field on a stretcher. The 25-year-old was later pictured boarding the team bus on crutches with Arsene Wenger confirming the player was in a lot of pain.

A photo posted by Gabriel Paulista (@gpaulista5) on Aug 9, 2016 at 1:06am PDT



If Gabriel has avoided ligament and bone damage it may alter Arsenal’s plans for the remainder of the transfer window. While the club is already on the lookout for one recruit at the back – a result of Per Mertesacker’s long-term injury – there had been suggestions we may make a second signing in the position.

In the short-term, it looks as though we’ll have to muddle through the first game of the season against Liverpool with Calum Chambers, Rob Holding, Krystian Bielik, Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy all candidates to partner up in the centre of defence.

The cynics (and believe us, we’re tempted to go there) might suggest we’ve asked Gabriel to post an optimistic message on social media to strengthen our position in a transfer window awash with piss-takers.

We’ve jinxed it…we’ll probably splash out £55 million on Jonny Evans now.