In a sudden twist of the international football break, Brazil has confirmed that Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will no longer participate in their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Argentina. The change comes as Gabriel received a yellow card during Brazil's narrow 2-1 victory over Colombia on March 20, forcing him into a one-match suspension. This decision is part of a broader reshuffle in the Brazil national team as CBF Futebol called up four new players to replace those sidelined by suspensions and injuries.
On March 21, 2025, CBF Futebol announced the additions of Joao Gomes, Ederson, Weverton, and PSG defender Beraldo to their squad. Notably, Beraldo has stepped in directly for Gabriel. The announcement was fueled by the suspensions of Gabriel and Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, both of whom received yellow cards in the match against Colombia. Gabriel’s absence means that Brazil will go into their crucial match against Argentina on March 25 without one of their key defenders.
Brazil faced a tough opening match in the World Cup qualifiers where they managed to secure a last-minute win over Colombia, thanks to a stunning injury-time goal from Vinicius Jr. Earlier in the game, Raphinha had given Brazil the lead from the penalty spot, but Liverpool's Luis Diaz equalized before the break. Gabriel featured prominently in that match, completing 97% of his passes and winning all five of his aerial duels, demonstrating his importance to the squad despite the disappointing end result of a booking.
In addition to Gabriel's suspension, Brazil will also miss key players due to injuries. Gerson was ruled out after suffering from thigh pain, and Liverpool's Alisson is recovering from a head injury, thus necessitating their return to their respective clubs. While Gabriel and Guimaraes will likely also return home, this was not explicitly stated by CBF Futebol. However, the apparent absence of these players makes their presence in the upcoming training sessions for Arsenal all the more critical as they prepare for the Premier League fixtures.
Gabriel’s return to Arsenal is particularly timely considering the mounting injury issues within the Gunners' squad. His absence from the Argentina clash ensures that he won’t risk further injuries and can focus on training ahead of the club's next high-stakes matches. Arsenal will be looking to recover from a challenging stretch as they face Fulham on April 1st, following an important run in the Champions League.
The defender's early return to London aligns with a series of injury concerns hitting Arsenal. Recently, teammates Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber also withdrew from their respective national teams due to injury and illness, respectively. Reports indicate that Calafiori suffered a knee strain during Italy's match against Germany, which is expected to leave him sidelined for two to three weeks. Meanwhile, Timber missed the Netherlands match against Spain owing to illness and will be assessed upon his return to the Emirates.
Despite the rocky road through this international break, Gabriel’s availability is a morale booster for Arsenal, especially as they aim to chase Liverpool in the league and prepare for their Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid on April 8. Already managing a list of sidelined players that includes Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, the last thing manager Mikel Arteta needed was additional injury concerns.
As Gabriel settles back into training, the hope is that he will not only be a physical asset but also a source of leadership as the team navigates through this critical phase of the season. His commitment is clear, especially after making 41 appearances this campaign, contributing to the team with five goals and one assist. With international duties behind him, Gabriel can now focus solely on Arsenal’s pursuit of silverware in the closing matches of the season.
This period of challenges offers a chance for Arsenal to solidify their squad as they prepare to tackle teams across both national and international platforms. As fans await the big match against Fulham, eyes will also be fixed on how players like Gabriel respond to this new phase as Arsenal pushes for a vital finish.
