STEP UP IN GABRIEL'S ABSENCE: ARTETA

Arsenal boss urges team to maintain defensive record without injured Brazilian

- 

The Brazilian defender has been at the heart of the near-impregnable Gunners backline that has conceded just five goals in 11 league matches.

LONDON - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a major headache as he considers how to reshuffle his defence for their English Premier League clash against rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Nov 23, in the absence of the injured Gabriel Ma-galhaes.

But he could now be sidelined for weeks after suffering a thigh injury during Brazil's 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

Arteta himself confirmed the bad news on Nov 21 when he spoke ahead of the Spurs match.

"Gabri unfortunately picked up an injury with the Brazilian national team and is going to be out for weeks," he said. "We need to have another scan, I think it is next Wednesday. We will have a timeline (when he will be back) that is much more clear than at the moment.

"It is clear that this is a blow. He's our leader in our backline and it's never a positive thing. People have to stand up now and do their job."