Arsenal require Gabriel leadership amid new lack of defensive options

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All of a sudden, Arsenal are looking a little light at the back.

The Gunners were defeated 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium by Leicester City last night, and lost David Luiz to a thigh injury in the process.

The Brazilian departed the action just four minutes into the second half, with Shkodran Mustafi replacing him.

The injury is a blow for Mikel Arteta, who is still waiting on returns for Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari.

Rob Holding is currently nursing a hamstring problem and is expected to be out for a few weeks, and Sokratis has not been included in the Gunners’ 25-man Premier League squad and is unavailable to Arteta.

Luiz – whose condition will become more clear in the next 48 hours according to Arteta – would probably be the biggest miss given his experience and leadership, but in new £23 million signing Gabriel Magalhaes (BBC Sport), Arsenal may be able to weather the storm.

TBR’s View – Arsenal now need Gabriel to be a leader

The Brazilian has made a fantastic start to life at the Emirates and has looked absolutely rock-solid at the back.

He’s strong, quick and great playing out from the back.

But the situation now demands that Gabriel takes on a leadership role.

He’s been playing with an authority about him. He’s a commanding presence. And Arteta now needs him to take over Luiz’s mantle and perhaps be a bit more vocal.

He has been leading by example through performance, and the South American is surely now primed to lead Arteta’s defence.