Arsenal dealt major blow as Gabriel hobbles off with potentially season-ending injury

Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League chances were dealt yet another blow as Gabriel was forced off against Fulham.

With less than 15 minutes played, the Gunners defender was holding the back of his leg with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Gabriel waved his hand in the air multiple times to signal his injury as play continued, with a Fulham corner bringing the action to a halt.

Arsenal’s centre-back sat on the pitch and cut a pained expression before being substituted just moments later for Jakub Kiwior.

It’s an injury that could spell the end of his season given there’s less than two months left of the season.

And while Arsenal’s title hopes are faint, the injury to Gabriel is very untimely with the Gunners facing Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.

Arsenal play host to Los Blancos next Tuesday before going to the Bernabeu eight days later for their quarter-final tie.

A Premier League trip to a rejuvenated Everton comes before then on Saturday, live on talkSPORT.

Gabriel could join teammates including Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on Arsenal’s list of long-term absences.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori have also struggled with fitness throughout the season, with Arsenal losing grip on top spot.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal fans now face an anxious wait to see how long Gabriel will be sidelined for.

The Brazilian missed just two Premier League matches earlier in the campaign with a knee issue.

He has once again been a reliable asset in the Arsenal defence but may now be highly-missed during the run-in.

Despite his injury, the Gunners opened the scoring later on in the first half when Mikel Merino’s effort deflected in off a Fulham man.