Arsenal look set to call upon their depth again this weekend as centre‑back Gabriel Magalhaes remains a doubt for the upcoming fixture.
According to a recent tweet from @2SA_FC, the Brazilian is now 80 % likely to be omitted from the squad, meaning a number of other options will be given more prominence.
Marli Salmon, the young centre‑back from the Arsenal academy, is expected to take a place on the bench. The tweet indicates that Salmon alongside Max Dowman, who has also been involved with the first team this week, are now with the senior squad.
Gabriel out; Mosquera in line to start vs Palace?
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed Gabriel left the pitch during their recent European tie with an issue and has yet to train fully ahead of the next game.
With that in mind, the club are likely to favour defenders with recent Premier League exposure. That puts Cristhian Mosquera ahead of Gabriel in the pecking order for this match‑day squad. Meanwhile Piero Hincapie is expected to feature either in the starting XI or on the bench, depending on how the defensive pairing is assembled.
This selection shuffle is another indication of Arsenal’s confidence in their defensive squad depth. Mosquera has already stepped into senior games and is now edging closer to more consistent first‑team involvement. Arsenal’s faith in young players like Salmon and Dowman suggests they are comfortable testing their readiness under pressure.
But the absence of Gabriel would be a blow, he has been a regular in the back‑line and his presence alongside William Saliba has underpinned much of the Gunners’ defensive success. The big question now: can Arsenal maintain their defensive solidity with these changes?
If Gabriel is ruled out, the likely back‑line could look like this: Saliba partnered by Mosquera, supported by Hincapie on the bench. Dowman and Salmon may also travel as cover, reflecting Arteta’s willingness to give youth opportunities in big games.
