JUST IN: Brazil selected two Arsenal players, but one was left out.

Brazil has announced its squad for the upcoming international break, and two Arsenal players, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, have made the cut. However, there’s a notable absence in the form of Gabriel Jesus, who is grappling with a knee injury.

Gabriel Jesus, despite making a return to the bench for Newcastle United last weekend, has not played any football since the beginning of February. This omission from the Brazil squad reflects his ongoing struggles with the injury. Nonetheless, there remains a possibility of a last-minute alteration to the squad.

Richarlison, a forward from Tottenham Hotspur, has been included in the Brazil squad, but his availability for the upcoming fixtures on March 23rd and 26th is uncertain. Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday that Richarlison will be sidelined for the next three to four weeks due to a knee injury. If Richarlison isn’t fit for the March fixtures and if Gabriel Jesus returns to action with Arsenal, there might be a potential swap between the two players.

In the scenario where Richarlison remains unavailable and Jesus gets back into Arsenal’s lineup, the latter would benefit from a much-needed break. This break would occur between Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 second leg against FC Porto on March 12th and their game away to Manchester City on March 31st.

Despite the uncertainties, both Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli expressed their joy at being included in the Brazil squad. Magalhaes conveyed his gratitude on Instagram, stating, “Thank God for another opportunity to represent the greatest team in the world.” Meanwhile, Martinelli shared his excitement on Twitter, saying, “Fulfilled by once again having the chance to wear the heaviest shirt in history.”

From an Arsenal perspective, the geographical locations of the upcoming fixtures bring good news. The two Arsenal players selected for the Brazil squad will only need to travel to Wembley Stadium and the Santiago Bernabeu for the matches against England on March 23rd and Spain on March 26th, respectively, eliminating the need for long-haul journeys across different continents.