Mikel Arteta has been truly tested by Arsenal’s injury list this season but, the end could be in sight for one key absentee.
Arteta is scraping the barrel in attack as Arsenal are missing several components from their first-choice front three.
Bukayo Saka underwent surgery on a hamstring tear, as did Kai Havertz, with Gabriel Jesus suffering an ACL injury and Gabriel Martinelli also out of action.
It’s been nothing short of a nightmare for Arteta and Arsenal, who are all but out of the Premier League title race as a result of lacking potency.
Arsenal receive Gabriel Martinelli injury boost
While Havertz and Jesus are out for the season, there’s a belief that Arteta’s two star wingers will return in the near future.
In the most recent update on the duo’s fitness, Arteta revealed that Martinelli and Saka will not return until after the international break, which takes place over the final two weeks of March.
It’s a waiting game for Arsenal and one that fans should be patient with due to the recurring issues hamstring injuries can trigger but, the Gunners might have been handed a boost.
After Brazil announced their provisional squad for the upcoming international break, it was noticed that Martinelli was named as an attacking option for the Selecao.
Dorival Junior seems to have some optimism regarding the 23-year-old’s fitness, which opposes Arteta’s understanding.
Given the Arsenal manager’s thoughts on Martinelli’s status, it’s surely unlikely that he will represent his country at the end of the month but, his involvement remains to be seen.
Mikel Arteta won’t want Martinelli on international duty
The situation is surprising but is not alien to Arsenal, who had to have a conversation with the Norway national team regarding Martin Odegaard.
Earlier in the campaign, Odegaard was called up by Stale Solbakken but, was later omitted from the squad based on what the three parties believed was best for the player.
As Martinelli has been out with a severe hamstring injury, the Brazilian must not be rushed back ahead of schedule.
Arsenal are 13 points behind Liverpool in the title race but still have the Champions League to play for, something that Martinelli will be a big part of.
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