Arsenal had to do without both Gabriel and William Saliba at Chelsea on Sunday and the Brazilian will not be back for ‘some weeks’ yet.

Both first-choice centre-backs were out of action at Stamford Bridge, with Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera at the heart of Arsenal’s defence as a result.

The feisty London derby ended 1-1, with Moises Caicedo sent-off in the first half, but Trevoh Chalobah putting Chelsea ahead shortly after the break nevertheless.

Mikel Merino equalised for Arsenal just before the hour mark and that’s how the match finished, with the Gunners remaining five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Gabriel was never going to be involved in this one due to the thigh injury he suffered on international duty with Brazil, while Saliba’s absence was a surprise an

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