Tottenham receive huge boost amid news on ‘absolutely fantastic’ Arsenal player
Gabriel is a doubt for Sunday’s North London derby after the Arsenal defender was forced off for Brazil against Senegal on Saturday.
Pape Matar Sarr was injured for Senegal in the same game, although manager Pape Thiaw has since calmed any fears of serious damage.
Speaking after the game, Thiaw spoke to the media and said that he does not think that the midfielder’s injury “is a big deal.”
Tottenham’s trip to Arsenal is expected to centre around set-pieces, with Gabriel‘s absence in that respect, huge for Thomas Frank‘s side.
Micky van de Ven was compared to Gabriel after scoring two headers against Everton, with the Brazilian building a reputation for his ability to dominate from corners.
Arsenal lose huge set-piece threat
Much of the conversation surrounding Arsenal’s start to the Premier League has been about their production from corners and free-kicks.
The Gunners have created a huge 8.98 expected goals (xG) from set-pieces, more than any other team in the league.
| Arsenal | Premier League 2025-26 | Tottenham |
| 19.68 | Expected goals (xG) | 11.70 |
| 10.70 | Open play xG | 6.71 |
| 8.98 | Set-piece xG | 4.99 |
| 20 | Goals scored | 19 |
Including penalties, 12 Premier League goals have gone in from set-pieces for Mikel Arteta‘s side this season – an incredible tally.
Much of that is down to the threat of Gabriel, who seems unstoppable when the delivery is right. It would appear that Tottenham will not have the defender to contend with on Sunday, however.
The Brazilian was forced off against Senegal, and is set to undergo tests on a muscular injury in the coming days.
Gabriel is always prominent in the North London derby
Tottenham fans will be extremely glad to see the back of Gabriel. The Brazilian has appeared in every one of the 10 North London derbies since his arrival at Arsenal in 2020, winning seven of them.
Last season saw the defender score the winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before having a huge involvement in Dominic Solanke‘s own-goal at the Emirates Stadium.
The contributions earned the 27-year-old the player of the match award in both games, his third in consecutive North London derbies.
Speaking after the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season, Alan Shearer said: “Gabriel, who I thought was absolutely fantastic, not only for the goal but for his overall performance. He was superb.”
Furthermore, Gabriel has a 90 per cent pass completion rate and is ranked in the top nine per cent of all centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals scored over the past 12 months.
Like many players on both sides of North London, the derby has appeared to resonate massively with Gabriel, meaning you can always expect the defender to have some involvement.
But not this time, it would appear, with Tottenham certain to be in even better spirits ahead of their trip down the road.
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