Mikel Arteta admits that Arsenal are "a bit concerned" over Gabriel after he went off injured against Chelsea.
The Brazilian defender managed 85 minutes in Tuesday's emphatic 3-1 London derby win, as he attempted to play on after hurting his foot in the second half. Having gone down in pain multiple times, however, Gabriel eventually had to be substituted in place of Rob Holding, leaving Arteta without his two best centre-backs at a crucial point in the season.
Gabriel, 25, joins regular partner William Saliba, who may not feature again this term, and backup Takehiro Tomiyasu in the treatment room. Post-match, Arteta was asked to provide an update on the 25-year-old's condition and the Arsenal manager replied: "He wasn't comfortable.
"We tried for 10 or 15 minutes but he could not carry on which is strange for Gabi. So we are a bit concerned about that because normally he's not one who wants to leave the pitch."
Although Gabriel was in good spirits whilst back on the pitch after the full-time whistle, his absence could spell trouble for the Gunners, who've already felt the effects of not having Saliba in the back line. Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in all seven of their games since the France international suffered a back injury, although there was a silver lining in Tuesday's victory.
Starting his first Premier League match following a £21million transfer from Italian side Spezia in January, Polish prospect Jakub Kiwior got the nod and produced an impressive performance. Operating on Gabriel's right, despite being left-footed, Kiwior showed why he deserved his chance after Holding's struggles against Premier League title rivals Manchester City last week.
"He looked ready, he looked fresh. He looked really determined, he's been getting better and better every single day," Arteta said of the highly-rated Pole. "Not only training but his interaction, his language, he is more settled and is a player that I really like which is why we signed him.
"He's got the potential at his age to be great and I think he had a big task against the players he had to face today and I think he did really well."
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The Gunners boss added: "Yes [I was pleased], especially with Jakub, it was a big task for him he hasn't played in the Premier League yet and to throw him in against top class players was a big ask. But we believe he is ready and his partnership with Gabi worked out really well. I think also Jorginho gave us a little bit of control in midfield and I'm really pleased with them."
Kiwior is in line to keep his place for Sunday's tricky trip to Newcastle, where he and Holding could forge a fresh partnership up against the Premier League's most in-form attack. Arteta and co are now back at the top of the table thanks to beating Chelsea, although City could be four points clear by the time Arsenal travel to St James' Park.
