Arsenal handed injury blow to key man in Liverpool title race

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One Arsenal star was forced off the pitch while on international duty, having been a key player for the Gunners in the race with Liverpool so far this season.Arsenal have been handed a potential injury blow in the Premier League title race with Liverpool, with influential defender Gabriel Magalhaes suffering an injury. Arsenal are currently leading the way in the Premier League table but the Reds will be hoping the close the gap between now and the end of the season.READ MORE: Ibrahima Konate offers Liverpool contract update and hints at when decision will be madeREAD MORE: Virgil van Dijk rejected as Chelsea star names Liverpool transfer target toughest opponentMikel Arteta's men conceded for the first time in nine games last weekend when they dropped two points in a 2-2 draw with newly promoted Sunderland.

Despite the result, they maintain their place at the top of the table.Arsenal have 26 points from their opening 11 games of the season, and are four points behind second placed Man City with 22 points. Liverpool did receive another blow to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title with a 3-0 loss against Man City in their last outing.They currently sit in eighth place in the table, but the tightness of the league means that the gap is a surmountable eight points.

The Reds will look to get back to winning ways next weekend when they host struggling Nottingham Forest at Anfield.Arsenal, meanwhile, face a tricky test as they take on local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.Liverpool are in action on Saturday (3pm), which gives them a chance to put pressure on their rivals, with Arsenal not in action until Sunday afternoon. If results go their way, then they could close the gap to five points by the end of the weekend.The injury to Gabriel will be another worry for Mikel Arteta, who has several injury worries ahead of the game.