Arsene Wenger uncertain over replacing injured defender Gabriel

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to confirm whether the club will attempt to sign defensive cover for injured defender Gabriel during the remainder of the summer transfer window after the Brazilian was stretchered off in the friendly win over Manchester City in Gothenburg. The 25-year-old picked up a foot injury during a tackle with Kelechi Ilheancho in the third minute of stoppage time of the Gunners' final pre-season match of the summer and is a major doubt for the Premier League opener against Liverpool.

Goals from Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Chuba Akpom ensured the north Londoners' ended their preparations for the new campaign in winning fashion and completed the second victory of their two-game Scandinavian tour. But the win came at a major cost, with Gabriel suffering an injury which looks set to rule him out for the start of the term.

Manager Arsene Wenger is already without Per Mertesacker until the new year after the German picked up a knee injury during pre-season, while Laurent Koscielny is unlikely to start the campaign as he continues to recover from playing for France at the European Championships. The Arsenal boss has previously speculated that England youth pair Rob Holding and Calum Chambers could be called upon, and the pair could play instead of the club making a new signing.

"I have said many times that we are in the market, but it's not an easy market for us," Wenger said according to the official Arsenal website. "Let's hope we have good news for Gabriel. Koscielny is back in training but we might be short for next week. If Gabriel is out, Mertesacker is out and Koscielny is out then that makes many players.

"We could see that we have played together for a while now, so there's a good fluidity and understanding in our game and reading of each other. I felt our transition from defence to attack was good, defending was good for the most part and physically we look ready."

Gabriel was in noticeable pain after going down in the third minute of added on time following a lunge in on City forward Ilheanacho. Arsenal are yet to confirm the nature of the injury, but Wenger has indicated he has picked up a ligament issue in his left foot.

"We have not even made a diagnosis in the medical room with our doctors or physios yet," he added. "I can't tell you more. He's in pain. Let's hope the pain is not a sign of bad news. The only thing we have to know now is how big the damage is with his ligament. I've never seen an intelligent accident, they always look stupid. We have to take that. He played the ball 100 per cent and I think he rolled his ankle, but I don't know how it happened. It's part of our game."