BREAKING NEWS: I know I have a good injury record but what the doctor said to me today made me to give up,I don’t think I can survive this time around”, Gabriel Magahaes finally reveals what the Club doctor said to Him today concerning His recent injury that made him to shed tears
Gabriel is a major fitness worry as Arsenal look to strengthen their remarkable defensive record. The Gunners defender has not trained fully since he came off nursing a thigh problem in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.
That makes him a worry for Arsenal’s showdown with Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday as Mikel Arteta’s men look to extend their impressive run of six straight wins in all competitions. Arsenal have also conceded just three goals in eight Premier League games this season and may even have a shot at Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 in a whole season when they won the title in 2004/05.
But, clearly, they will be hoping that Gabriel – who scored and assisted against Atletico – will be fit to face Palace.
Arteta said: “Big Gabi had to leave the pitch with an issue, and he hasn’t been able to train yet, so let’s see how he evolves in the next 24 hours, whether he’s available or not for the weekend.”
Arteta did laugh at the irony that having the best defence normally clinches the title as last season Arsenal conceded less than champions Liverpool.
But Arteta said: “Yes, we want that this kind of record that we are getting a lot at the end brings the silverware and the trophies that we want but obviously the more we can produce I think the closer we’re going to be to achieve what we want to do.
“And that defensive record is very good but we need to be consistent, it’s only just the start of the season and the aim is to continue improving things which we can do still, a lot of them to even better.
“I just go back to the history of football in general and the teams that have the best defensive record most of the times, except for the last three seasons in the Premier League, which we’ve been, normally you win the league. So just go against those stats, but the stronger we are in that foundation, the bigger the probability to win games are.
“But in football, if, if, if is too many ifs. It’s so unpredictable already. So on top of that, you put ifs. Then it becomes extremely difficult to focus on the things that we are doing, we are doing consistently well.
“If we can improve, then let’s see where we are at the end of the season.We are doing consistently well. And if we can improve them, then let’s see where we are at the end of the season.
“Obviously it’s something that is super positive. It’s the first time that has happened in our history. Imagine how difficult it is to do it. So, yeah, we are very, very happy to be performing at that level in a really important part of the game, especially. And now it’s about continuing doing it.”
