Premier League build-up: Chelsea v Tottenham on Thursday (20:00 BST)
Chelsea would move up to fourth with a win after dropping to sixth, while Spurs would move 13th, back above Manchester United
Team news: Palmer, Madueke and Jackson are 'all good' and ready to return
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was pleased that his returning players got game-time during the international break
Chelsea have lost just once in their last 12 league games against Tottenham
ICYMI - Gabriel to miss rest of the season - Arsenal's struggles without him | 'Good PGMOL acknowledged the mistake' - Slot
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Certainly seems that way, doesn't it Jamie?
Back in May 2024 Sky Sports, external reported that Premier League teams averaged a record-breaking 140 sprints per game last season, a rise from 127 per game during the 2020-21 campaign.
I can't find any earlier data, sorry, but Sky Sports did also add that sprints per game have risen in every season since 2020.
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While the number of injuries players are experiencing may well be linked to an increased number of matches being played with less rest, perhaps there's also a link to the style of football being played as well. High intensity, pressing football has become the norm, players are being worked harder and harder in matches. Perhaps it's that workload that players just can't keep up with. It would be interesting to compare number of high intensity sprints on average in matches today with those of 20/30 years ago. While clubs may not be able to control how many matches they play, they can certainly influence the style in which they play. If you don't want to have so many injuries, perhaps longevity should be considered when planning tactically going forward.
Jamie in Leyton
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told BBC Radio 5 Live, after Tuesday's win over Fulham, that it was too early to hypothesise on the reasons behind Gabriel Magalhaes injury
But after Gabriel stayed in the UK over the recent international break, sitting out Brazil's latest round of World Cup qualifiers, he believed it was wrong to suggest his injury could have been caused by workload.
"I don't know, we have to investigate a lot because Gabi only had one incident since he has been with us and he didn't play with his national team, so he had a period where you could say that we offload him and want to recover him," said Arteta.
"So very difficult to put something specific to give you the right reason."
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Another season ending injury to a key player. Can't keep making the same excuses but it is getting tiring as a Gooner. Last season and the season before we had most men fit and fell short. 2nd place this year would a miracle all things considered. Needs looking at for next year - way too many injuries.
George
Premier League
According to Premier Injuries, up to game week 29 there had been 118 hamstring injuries recorded to players in the Premier League this season that had led to them missing at least one game.
That means there had been, on average, four hamstring injuries recorded every game week this season.
Those figures will be updated after the current game week finishes tonight, so does not include Gabriel's injury.
The number of hamstring injuries has been rising in recent seasons, with concerns expressed about the intensifying schedule of matches.
Here is a list of hamstring injuries recorded in the Premier League over the past five seasons:
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Rotten news for Arsenal but with the number of muscular injuries they’ve had this season I think Arteta needs to consider his players workload. Lots been spoken about luck this season but these injuries seem to be careless rather than bad luck.
James
The news on Gabriel Magalhaes needing surgery comes in a week that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also had to deal with injuries to three other key defenders.
Jurrien Timber also limped off with a knee injury in Tuesday's win over Fulham.
The 23-year-old Netherlands defender missed his entire first season with the club due to an ACL injury after signing from Ajax in July 2023, but has played 41 times this campaign.
That followed injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White in the build-up to the victory over the Cottagers.
Arteta added: "Ben White hasn't participated at all this season, it's what it is. You can imagine, we've lost four players in the defensive line in one week - Calafiori, White, Jurrien and Gabi. [But] we have still another four that are so willing that they will do their job."
Image source, Getty ImagesAh. I've got more news for you Anon...
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Massive blow for Arsenal, but if Timber is fit he can go CB and again if he's fit... White can play RB
Anon
Premier League games unless stated
The Gunners face a hectic few weeks, with key games in the Premier League run-in and a Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid this month:
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Gabriel's injury is a massive blow for our champions league bid which is our only chance left at a trophy this season. Hopefully kiwior can step up and prove himself!
Anon
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal's win percentage is 63.50% across the 159 games in which Gabriel has featured since the defender's Premier League debut.
That win-rate drops to 40.90% in the 22 games Gabriel has missed in the league during that time.
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Just seen the Gabriel news, another hammer blow to our season. When the dust settles this season we do need to factor all the injury woes in and avoid any over reaction, hope for a good summer in the market and go again stronger next season, with everyone fully behind Arteta.
Chris London
Funny you should mention that, James.
The Gunners have already spent significant parts of the season without three key players - Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz - due to hamstring injuries.
Havertz is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining an injury during the team's Dubai training camp in February.
While Martinelli was out for a month after picking up an injury in the first leg of the Gunners' Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle at the start of February.
Saka, meanwhile, was missing for three months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem suffered in Arsenal's Premier League win over Crystal Palace on 21 December.
He scored on his return as a second-half substitute against Fulham.
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Losing Gabriel for the Madrid games is obviously huge, he's been our best player this season, but the bigger problem is why do we have so many hamstring injuries? He's the third that's required surgery. The club need to have a serious look at this over the summer.
James, Nottingham
Image source, Getty ImagesBrazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes has formed a formidable centre-back pairing with France's William Saliba at the heart of the Arsenal defence.
The 27-year-old has made 42 appearances for the Gunners this season, playing in 28 of their 30 games in the Premier League so far.
Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 25 goals, two less than league leaders Liverpool.
Gabriel has also proved to be a potent weapon at the other end of the pitch on set-pieces, weighing in with five goals - three in the league.
Speaking after the victory against Fulham in midweek, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice claimed Gabriel had arguably been the Gunners' standout performer this campaign.
"I don't know what's happened," Rice said.
"I hope he's OK because he's been arguably our best player this season and we need him for big matches and big occasions."
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Football tribalism aside I wish Gabriel a speedy recovery. He's a great player.
Anon
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We're going to switch our focus to Gabriel injury news reaction.
Arsenal fans, we want to hear from you. What will that blow do to your side's Champions League hopes?
Further to being substituted during our match against Fulham on Tuesday, we can confirm that Gabriel Magalhaes has sustained a hamstring injury which requires surgery.
Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season.
Everyone at the club will be fully focused on supporting Gabi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 70 | 27 | 43 | 73 |
| |
| 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 55 | 25 | 30 | 61 |
| |
| 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 50 | 35 | 15 | 57 |
| |
| 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 54 | 37 | 17 | 52 |
| |
| 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 57 | 40 | 17 | 51 |
| |
| 29 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 39 | 10 | 50 |
| |
| 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 45 | -1 | 48 |
| |
| 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 48 | 45 | 3 | 47 |
| |
| 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 44 | 40 | 4 | 45 |
| |
| 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 49 | 38 | 11 | 44 |
| |
| 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 51 | 47 | 4 | 41 |
| |
| 29 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 40 |
| |
| 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 37 |
| |
| 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 55 | 44 | 11 | 34 |
| |
| 30 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 32 | 37 | -5 | 34 |
| |
| 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 33 | 50 | -17 | 34 |
| |
| 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 41 | 58 | -17 | 29 |
| |
| 30 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 30 | 63 | -33 | 20 |
| |
| 30 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 25 | 67 | -42 | 17 |
| |
| 30 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 22 | 71 | -49 | 10 |
|
