Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, expressed his regret over the injury of Brazilian defender Gabriel ahead of the match against Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday, in the 12th round of the Premier League, during the pre-match press conference.

Regarding Gabriel's injury, Arteta said: "Unfortunately, Gabriel got injured while with the Brazilian national team and will be out for several weeks. We will conduct an additional scan next Wednesday, which will give us a clearer idea of the expected timeframe for his return."

He added: "There is no doubt that Gabriel's absence is a heavy blow; he is our defensive leader, and his absence cannot be seen as a positive. The reassuring aspect is that we have strong alternatives, and now they must restore balance to the back line."

Regarding Ricardo Calafiori's readiness, he explained: "He hasn't trained yet. We have another training session tomorrow to assess his condition. He missed the Italy matches and was unavailable due to some aches, so we had to send him back."

Regarding the status of the other injured players—Ødegaard, Martinelli, Jorginho, Havertz, Jesus, and Madueke—he said: "I am optimistic that we will see progress in their condition tomorrow, but I can't be certain. I can't tell you any more than that."

Regarding the imminent return of the forwards, he continued: "I am more optimistic about their return now compared to how I felt before the Sunderland match. We are in the final stage, and it depends on the challenges they face around them and how they handle them."

Regarding playing in the North London derby at the Emirates Stadium, he said: "When everyone plays with immense passion and emotion in every ball, it makes a big difference. It's wonderful to see the fans supporting us at the Emirates, especially against our rivals. I am confident that the team will perform as they should and make them proud."

Regarding the specific challenge of facing Tottenham, he explained: "The match requires a different kind of preparation; you can't be overly aggressive, but every moment demands a higher level of quality and focus."

Regarding the necessity of proving Arsenal's right to their current position, he emphasized, saying: "When you reach this stage of the season, you have to prove that you deserve the position you are in."

Regarding Gabriel Jesus's rehabilitation process, he said: "He has given his all over the past two weeks. We will give him the opportunity to participate in some matches to fully regain his physical readiness. He looks to be in excellent condition and will be a strong addition when he returns."

Regarding the high number of injuries in football, he stated: "Injuries are an inseparable part of football. The match schedule has become more congested, which leads to more injuries. We try to minimize them, but it is an unavoidable reality, and we have to deal with it."

Regarding the renewal of Bukayo Saka's contract, he replied: "What I know is that he wants to stay with us, he is very happy here and wants to continue and achieve our shared goals. As for when and how that will happen, those are details we leave to Andrea Berta."

Regarding Gabriel Magalhães' absence and its impact, Arteta concluded: "Every player has their own qualities, and Gabriel stands out for his leadership, quality, and love for defending, as well as his energy and body language that he conveys to his teammates. We have to compensate for his absence, and everyone must raise their level of effort. This situation has happened many times."