Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off late with injury in Arsenal’s dominant 5-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP on Tuesday night, Mikel Arteta has confirmed. The Brazilian was replaced by Jakub Kiwior with just over five minutes left in Portugal.
Speaking after the match, Arteta explained the decision to withdraw Gabriel, who scored Arsenal’s third goal of the night. “We had to make the change because he was feeling some discomfort,” the head coach explained. “I was about to make the change for Raz [Raheem Sterling], poor thing, I couldn’t make the sub. We had to get him out.”
It was the one blow at the end of a brilliant night for the Gunners. They enjoyed their biggest Champions League win for over 20 years, putting a Sporting side without Ruben Amorim to the sword from the very first minute.
