Serge Gnabry (behind Coquelin) trained with the first team today, Gabriel did not (reported thigh injury) #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/iaKDr46nLy
— ArsenalFanTV (@ArsenalFanTV) February 13, 2016
Gabriel, aged 25, has not been a regular since arriving in north London from Spanish Villarreal a little over a year ago, but that has changed in recent weeks.
He has leapfrogged Per Mertesacker in Arsene Wenger’s pecking order since the German’s red card against Chelsea last month and was expected to continue alongside Laurent Koscielny against the Foxes at lunchtime today.
Given the ease with which Blues striker Diego Costa accelerated away from Mertesacker to result in the defender’s sending off last time out, there are obvious fears about the danger Leicester’s pacy striker Jamie Vardy might pose to the Arsenal backline today.
As such, Gabriel’s absence would be a major blow to the Gunners’ prospects.