Arsenal fans and FPL managers alike will be taking notice of the news that Gabriel was forced off with an <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/gabriel-injury-fpl-gameweek-12/">injury</a> while on international duty with Brazil.
The defender has been a colossus at the back so far this season, amassing a defender-high 81 points, including five clean sheets, three goal involvements, and a bucket load of bonus points. 
In fact, only Erling Haaland (102) has accumulated more FPL points so far this term across all players.
Millions of FPL managers are subsequently fretting on his fitness ahead of Arsenal’s crucial clash against North London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
There are no concrete updates available just yet, but if the worst is confirmed and he’s out for a chunk of games &#8211; at the very least &#8211; then it raises the pressing question: who should replace him in your FPL team?
Using Squawka&#8217;s bespoke <a href="https://www.squawka.com/en/comparison-matrix/?compare=dcjOx-I9XT_9EdEnoS4Yc">comparison matrix</a>, we’ve narrowed the options down to four main contenders:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Best Arsenal replacement</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Best premium replacement</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Best £5m+ replacement</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Best budget replacement</li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_75814" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75814" class="size-full wp-image-75814" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gabriel-injury.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="657" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gabriel-injury.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gabriel-injury-300x192.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Gabriel-injury-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Gabriel Magalhaes is substituted after suffering an injury for Brazil. Picture by Getty Images</div>
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<h3>Best Arsenal replacement: Jurrien Timber (£6.1m)</h3>
The most logical choice is seemingly to stick with an Arsenal defender, given their defensive prowess and the frequency of their clean sheets.
Squawka&#8217;s pick here is Jurrien Timber. Only Gabriel has accrued more points among defenders, with Timber&#8217;s total of 67 including a stunning 24-pointer against Leeds.
In that game he scored a brace, grabbed an assist, and kept a clean sheet, so clearly there are routes to points for the Dutchman.
In Squawka&#8217;s comparison matrix, Timber ranks as the highest-rated full-back at 79% &#8211; representing an excellent asset both defensively and offensively. 
He has five clean sheets, winning 63 of his duels, making 34 tackles (the third most of any defender), and completing 21 clearances, and six interceptions &#8211; although he’s surprisingly yet to collect any FPL points for defensive contributions.
Offensively, he&#8217;s managed three goal involvements, 10 shots, eight attempted through balls, 12 chances created, averaging 8.87 touches in the opposition box per game. 
From a disciplinary perspective he has only been booked once this season, so the only real note of caution is potential rotation with Ben White.
<div id="attachment_74347" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74347" class="size-full wp-image-74347" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2231824520.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="674" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2231824520.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2231824520-300x197.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2231824520-768x506.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Jurrien Timber. Picture by Getty Images</div>
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<h3>Best premium replacement: Virgil van Dijk (£5.9m)</h3>
Squawka&#8217;s comparison matrix highlights Virgil van Dijk as a standout option &#8211; his 120 total defensive contributions have earned him 12 extra points so far &#8211; he ranks first for clearances (94), winning 64 duels, with a 72.73% ground-duel success rate, and has committed just five fouls. 
Van Dijk remains a force in the air, winning 78.69% of his aerial duels &#8211; the second-best rate in the league &#8211; and leads the way with 70 headed clearances. 
Although he’s yet to register a goal contribution, he continues to be a major threat from set-pieces, and was unfortunate to have a header chalked off against Manchester City. 
On top of that, he offers unparalleled security of minutes, having played every second of the season to date.
The obvious concern is Liverpool’s lack of clean sheets (just three) and the 17 goals conceded, but their upcoming fixtures offer a genuine reset. 
With matches against Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds (twice), Brighton, Tottenham, and Wolves, now could be the ideal time to bring the Dutchman into your squad.
<div id="attachment_74755" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74755" class="size-full wp-image-74755" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234890737-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Virgil van Dijk. Picture by Getty Images</div>
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<h3>Best £5m+ replacement: Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m)</h3>
At title-chasing Manchester City, one player has really stood out in recent weeks &#8211; 20-year-0ld left-back Nico O&#8217;Reilly has started seven of the last eight matches, playing over 80 minutes in each of those starts, which strongly suggests he is firmly in Guardiola’s plans right now.
O&#8217;Reilly is the man of the moment right now, having started in each of England’s November World Cup qualifiers, keeping a clean sheet in both.
The defender has delivered an impressive 31 points in his last four league matches, including two 11-point hauls, three goal involvements and two clean sheets &#8211; as well as two defensive contribution points.
The England man offers genuine attacking upside, scoring once and providing two assists across those four games. 
He boasts a 40% take-on success rate and averages 3.41 touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes, highlighting his advanced role.
Defensively, City have kept five clean sheets with him on the pitch, conceding just three goals in that time.
City’s fixture schedule is also highly favourable. After a trip to Newcastle this weekend, they take on Leeds, Fulham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest &#8211; a run packed with points potential.
<div id="attachment_75862" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-75862" class="size-full wp-image-75862" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244200814.jpg" alt="Pep Guardiola celebrates with Nico O'Reilly. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244200814.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244200814-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244200814-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Pep Guardiola celebrates with Nico O&#8217;Reilly. Picture by Getty Images</div>
&nbsp;
<h3>Best budget replacement: Chris Richards (£4.5m)</h3>
For managers looking to free up funds elsewhere in their squad, Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards is Squawka&#8217;s budget option at £4.5m.
The centre-back has played every minute of every Premier League match this season, helping Palace keep five clean sheets and conceding more than once in just two games. 
Owned by just 3.4% of FPL managers, Richards has become a defensive contributions magnet, earning an extra two points on six occasions. 
Squawka&#8217;s comparison matrix highlights his impressive numbers: 68 clearances, 53 headed clearances (3rd most), eight blocks, and 16 interceptions, including the most interceptions inside his own box. 
He’s also yet to receive a card, committing only six fouls in 11 games. While unfortunately Richards hasn’t offered much in the way of attacking returns so far this season, his long throw has caused problems, while he has an aerial duel success rate of 60.71%.
Richards’ clean-sheet points and defensive contributions have been enough to make him highly effective. His tally of 52 points to date is more than premium options like Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba, and Josko Gvardiol.
Palace’s short-term fixtures also look favourable, with Wolves, Burnley and Fulham in the next few weeks.
<div id="attachment_74561" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74561" class="size-full wp-image-74561" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chris-Richards.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="828" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chris-Richards.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chris-Richards-300x243.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chris-Richards-768x621.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Chris Richards. Picture by Getty Images</div>
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