Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has joined a growing list of Gunners players missing international duty due to injury, withdrawing from Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States.

 The 28-year-old suffered pain in his right knee, confirmed by imaging tests, after playing the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Gabriel is the latest of six Arsenal first-teamers unavailable for this international window. Centre back William Saliba has also pulled out of France’s squad, while England midfielder Eberechi Eze withdrew with a calf problem after sustaining the injury in Arsenal’s Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen. Winger Leandro Trossard is out of Belgium’s squad, captain Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with a knee issue, and Dutch defender Jurrien Timber is also unavailable.

Despite the absences, Arsenal remain in the hunt for their first Premier League title in 22 years, leading Manchester City by nine points with a game in hand. The Gunners return to action with an FA Cup quarter final against Southampton on April 4, followed by the first leg of their Champions League quarter final against Sporting on April 7, before resuming their league campaign against Bournemouth on April 11.