Arsenal injury news: Gabriel reveals he is 'almost 100 per cent' fit ahead of Manchester United clash

On track: Gabriel is nearing full fitness
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj25 February 2016

Arsenal defender Gabriel has given Arsene Wenger a boost ahead of the club's clash against Manchester United on Sunday after revealing he is "almost 100 per cent" fit again.

Gabriel has missed the Gunners' last three matches against Leicester, Hull and Barcelona after suffering a hamstring injury earlier this month, which forced Wenger to hand Per Mertesacker a starting berth despite having preferred Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal's defence recently.

Gabriel admits being sidelined with injury after cementing his place in the Gunners' team has been frustrating, but said he is nearing full fitness again.

"I’m almost 100 per cent recovered," the defender said. "I’ve already started to do the strengthening work.

"I went to Brazil briefly to try and recover, and also to be close to my family as well. Now I’m back and working with the help of Arsenal’s medical team to come back.

"I’m very happy with the training sessions at the end of last week and hope to continue with this work to be able to be at the manager’s disposal soon.

"I had been playing well for four or five consecutive games, being praised by everyone, so this injury took me by surprise. It made me sad, that’s why I returned to Brazil.

"But now I want to recover as quickly as possible to be able to play with the team as soon as I can."

Ask our columnist Tony Evans your burning questions in the comment box below ahead of his weekly Q&A, Thursday at 12pm!

You can also tweet us @StandardSport using the hashtag #AskEvans, or message Standard Sport on Facebook.

25 February 2016

Tony says:Think they need a different approach in the Nou Camp, Gary. I thought they played well and were disciplined on Tuesday but were a little unlucky. If I was Wenger, I’d throw caution to the wind and load the front line with pace. Get the ball forward early and let the runners go. Be nice if Ozil and Sanchez turned up, too.

25 February 2016

With that in mind, Gary Jones asks:

However unlikely, what must Arsenal do to progress to the Champions League last eight?
3 August 2018

Following that loss to Barcelona in midweek, Arsenal are staring at another last 16 elimination this season. They've already failed to make it to the quarter-finals of the competition for the last five years running and, if they lose the tie with the Catalan giants in two weeks, it'll be their sixth year going out at this stage. 

25 February 2016

Tony says: 

Did you read it, Nafiuzzaman? Does the brilliance of the team mean we can't question the hypocrisy of the club, the connections with Qatar and the constant whinging by the players? I suppose it’s the modern way: check your morality in at the turnstile and pick it up after the game.If you want to live by the axiom my team, right or wrong that’s fine. If you buy the ‘more than a club’, I think it’s up to you. I’m not having it, though.

Oh, and by the way, NAFIUZZAMAN, I can think of a number of teams who would have beaten this Barcelona side. Messi is great but they've got flaws in defence and midfield.

25 February 2016

NAFIUZZAMAN asks: 

Is this satire? The greatest club side of 21st century and the team which is considered the greatest club side ever, where arguably the greatest player ever plays, is somehow not special!?
25 February 2016

Despite the issues he highlighted in his column this week, Tony admitted Barcelona are probably the best team in the world at the moment following their 2-0 win over Arsenal on Tuesday. Read Tony's comments on the game right here.

25 February 2016

He also talked about Barcelona's shirt deal:

The ugliness of the club goes much deeper than players, though. Traditionally, they saw themselves as flagbearers of Catalan identity. The club’s website claims: “Barca became symbolic of democracy and anti-centralism.” 

It may have been true under the rule of Generalissimo Franco but no one seems to have told them that the fascist dictator died 41 years ago. How does this commitment to democratic beliefs square with Barcelona’s close — and lucrative — relationship with Qatar?

3 August 2018

Tony wrote about Luis Enrique's side ahead of Barcelona's Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Arsenal here in London, and while praising the team for being a "very good" side, he also highlighted a few issues he has with the club...

"Barca are a rapacious moneymaking operation with an eye on global domination. They have managed to make people believe they are underdogs. That they care. It’s the biggest con job since the devil convinced the world he didn’t exist."
25 February 2016

And we're off! Before we get Tony answering your all-important questions, let's recap what his latest column for Standard Sport said about Barcelona...

29 February 2016

The Q&A with Tony Evans will start at 12pm on Thursday February 25th. Leave your questions in the comment box above!

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