MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -Arsenal's preparations for Sunday's home clash with Tottenham Hotspur have been hit by uncertainty over centre-back Gabriel, whose thigh injury is expected to rule him out of the showdown.

Gabriel has been a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta's defence this season but limped off during Brazil's friendly against Senegal last week, and his absence would leave the Premier League leaders without their most dominant aerial presence.