Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has discussed when Gabriel Martinelli might be fit to return to first team action.
Gabriel Martinelli picked up a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s recent 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park. The Brazilian winger limped off in the first half, to be replaced by Leandro Trossard, who went on to score the match-winning goal.
Trossard may well be named in the Arsenal starting XI for the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven tonight, as Mikel Arteta certainly won’t be able to call on Martinelli.
Asked when the 22-year-old may get back to full fitness, Arteta recently said, “he felt something in his hamstring and we need to do some further tests to assess if there is any big damage or not but he will be out for tomorrow’s [PSV Eindhoven] game, that’s for sure,” as quoted by the club’s official website.
Once Arsenal’s Champions League engagement is out of the way, all attention at the club will turn to Sunday’s upcoming north London derby against bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. It is a high-stakes game that Arteta will want to name his strongest side for.
Asked if Martinelli may be involved against Spurs, the Spanish coach said, “it’s a possibility but we don’t know yet. We need some more tests and see what happens.”
Arsenal strong with or without Martinelli
It would be a blow to be without Martinelli at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The seven-cap Brazil international is a key figure for the Gunners, and would have posed a real threat to the Tottenham defence.
However, this Arsenal squad has excellent strength in depth, and the likes of Trossard, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson will all be desperate for the chance to impress in the place of Martinelli in this all-important fixture.
There does seem to be a chance, though, however slim, that Martinelli could play a part on Sunday. If that is the case, then the £90,000-a-week forward has the quality to make a game-changing contribution.
Arteta will have full confidence that he has enough quality in his available options to secure a positive result on derby day.
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