Arsenal fans have rounded on fellow supporters who attacked Gabriel following Jack Wilshere’s latest injury.
The England midfielder suffered a suspected hairline fracture in his left fibula after being tackled in training, and now faces months on the sidelines.
And soon after the news was revealed, fans started abusing Gabriel – whose tackled reportedly led to the injury – on social media.
The Brazilian defender was even receiving death threats.
One Twitter user wrote: “Thank you for ending my boy’s career and ruining my title dream. I swear to God if I see you I’ll kill you. Believe that @gpaulista5.”
Another tweeted: “Wtf Gabriel you reckless c*** go back to Brazil no wonder you’re the squad loner. P****.”
One user even threatened to kill the defender’s family.
They wrote: “Leave my fucking club @gpaulista5. Fucking knob I’ll put your family down.”
But this provoked a furious backlash from other Arsenal fans, who defended Gabriel – who joined the club in January from Villarreal – and blasted the Twitter trolls.
The ‘so called’ @Arsenal fans hating on @gpaulista5 are the epitome of the element that we don’t want or need at my historic club. Disgrace!
— Martin Whittle (@martinwhittle19) August 5, 2015
@martinwhittle19 @Arsenal @gpaulista5 Terrible luck for Jack. But how can fans give Gabriel stick. These things happen in training
— Gary Lawrence (@garythegooner56) August 5, 2015
People tweeting Gabriel acting like he purposefully injured Wilshere. The state of you…
— B Larsen | Arsenal (@BLarsenAFC1886) August 5, 2015
Wishing Wilshere the speediest of recoveries and Gabriel to continue being fierce in a tackle. Anyone abusing Gabriel on Twitter is a knob.
— Mr Stapleton (@grizzlyboipro) August 5, 2015
One tweeted: “The ‘so called’ Arsenal fans hating on @gpaulista5 are the epitome of the element that we don’t want or need at my historic club. Disgrace!”
Another added: “Terrible luck for Jack. But how can fans give Gabriel stick. These things happen in training.”
While one wrote: “Wishing Wilshere the speediest of recoveries and Gabriel to continue being fierce in a tackle. Anyone abusing Gabriel on Twitter is a knob.”