As expected from an elite European club, Arsenal had 16 of its players called up for international duty with Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus called up for the Brazilian National Team for games against Bolivia and Peru. 

The first set of Gunners that featured on Thursday night were Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard. 

Kiwior played 90 minutes as a left back as Poland defeated Faroe Islands with a brace from their legendary forward, Robert Lewandowski. At 35, the Polish ace is still banging in the goals with consummate ease and this brace against Faroe Islands made his goalscoring tally at 80 goals in 143 appearances for Poland. Elsewhere, Saliba came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute in France’s 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland. Didier Deschamps started the game with a Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez pairing, and he still has the likes of Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate to count on, his preferred pairing in the World Cup, so Saliba has a long way to go before securing a starting berth for France, but he has age on his side.

Odegaard was part of the Norway team that smashed in six goals past Jordan in a friendly. The Arsenal captain played for 62 minutes, creating four chances and taking three shots, which included two blocked shots and one big chance missed. Funnily enough, Haaland stayed on the bench for the entire 90 minutes and didn’t join in the goal fest on display.

The only Arsenal player that was eligible for selection yesterday was David Raya, as Spain absolutely destroyed Georgia 7-1, but with Unai Simon preferred between the sticks, Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga had to make do with a run out in the dugout.

Early this morning, Gabriel Magalhaes was the only Arsenal player in the Brazil lineup, playing alongside Marquinhos at the heart of the defense in the 5-1 thrashing of Bolivia. Richarlison had another stinker in attack, before he was yanked off for Matheus Cunha in the 71st minute, but all five goals came from the attacking midfielders supporting the front line, with Rodrygo scoring a brace, Raphinha netting one, and Neymar scoring a brace as well. Neymar would have had the chance for a hat-trick but he missed his penalty.

Gabriel Jesus came on as an 89th minute sub for Rodrygo, having only one touch of the ball and giving out one pass.

The main concern, however, when Gabriel Magalhaes was on the end of a horror tackle from Bolivia’s Diego Ibanez as early as the fifth minute. Gabriel shrugged it off after receiving treatment from the Brazil physios, before he was eventually substituted in the 84th minute for Roger Ibanez. Shortly after seating on the bench, Gabriel was seen receiving more medical attendance from the physios, and Arsenal fans will be sweating over his fitness in the coming days.

We lost Jurrien Timber early in the season, and Thomas Partey followed suit not long ago. In terms of depth, Arsenal can call on Kiwior or even Takehiro Tomiyasu to cover for Gabriel, but with Champions League, Carabao Cup and Premier League action taking place this September, Arteta will need to shuffle his pack very well to meet with the rigors of these competitions.

Hopefully, Gabriel will sit out the other qualifier against Peru and work his way to full fitness before Arsenal’s visit to Goodison Park to take on Satanball’s ambassador on Earth, Sean Dyche.

Sayonara.

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