Gabriel Magalhaes is set for hamstring surgery after being withdrawn during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.
He will now be sidelined until next season.
Arsenal announced: “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.”
The timing is far from ideal. Gabriel, who has made 42 appearances for Arsenal this season, had become the bedrock of Mikel Arteta’s defensive line. His absence throws Arsenal’s preparations for their Champions League quarter-final into flux.
The nature of a surgical hamstring repair procedure suggests a high-grade tear or avulsion – where the tendon is either significantly damaged or detached from the bone. Unlike conservative rehab which might involve weeks of rest and progressive loading, surgery addresses instability, reattaches torn tissue, and reinforces the integrity of the muscle-tendon unit.
It’s invasive, but in high-performing athletes like Gabriel, it dramatically reduces re-injury risk and ensures long-term performance preservation.
Post-operative rehab is extensive. In the first weeks, focus is placed on inflammation control and passive mobility, often under cryotherapy and guided physiotherapy. From there, Gabriel will enter a progressive loading protocol – controlled resistance, isometric work, ...
