Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães is forced to isolate himself and will lose the next three matches

Arsenal confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhães will miss the club’s next three games against Chelsea, Brighton and West Brom.

The Brazilian got in close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus and will now have to isolate himself, increasing the anguish of businessman Mikel Arteta, who will now be without one of his summer hires while he tries to reverse his torrid form.

The 23-year-old has been one of the pillars of Arsenal’s defense since his arrival and has played 12 league games this season, scoring twice.

Arsenal confirmed that defender Gabriel will lose the club’s next three matches

The Brazilian got in close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus

Gabriel’s absence increases Mikel Arteta’s distress, who will not have one of the main signings of the summer

His Brazilian teammates, Willian and David Luiz, were also declared unavailable to the Gunners after both were unavailable.

However, both returned negative covid-19 tests.

Center-back Pablo Mari was called up only for his second game of the season in the Premier League due to the absence of Gabriel and was named alongside Rob Holding, as Arteta’s team continues to turn the tide after his recent form .

The Gunners are 15th in the league after 14 games, before the start of the London classic against Chelsea by Frank Lampard.

Having suffered recent defeats to Burnley and Everton, they have now not won since November 1 in the Premier League and Arteta is under increasing pressure to achieve victory from somewhere.

Arsenal desperately need victory on Boxing Day to change its shocking shape

The Spaniard explained that a victory over rival Chelsea would be of great help to the club.

“At the moment, to keep the team alive and be a team, not a group of players, it takes a lot of energy because when you are losing matches you have to lift it,” he said.

“The players are really excited to (protect) what we are building. But it takes a lot of energy because we are losing games.

‘Every game has a lot of weight on their shoulders, it’s a lot of disappointment and people are suffering. We are suffering and we have to start believing again and try to push the players, so they respond and get excited for the game.

‘The best medicine, better than anything that can happen outside our facilities, is to beat Chelsea.

“I think the next seven to eight days will be crucial to seeing where we are going in the Premier League.”