Since he arrived from the lower ranks of Brazilian football, Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t always enjoyed the best of luck with injuries at Arsenal.
Martinelli suffered a serious knee injury during his first season at the Emirates Stadium, something that initially halted his progress at Arsenal.
Since then, Martinelli hasn’t suffered from anything too significant, but he’s consistently endured little set-backs and pains that have affected his match sharpness.
That being said, Martinelli looks to have finally regained his confidence and edge in recent games, starting to overcome a difficult few months or so.
That explains why the Brazilian has been called-up by his national team over the break for games against Chile and Peru, the first of which was won 2-1 last Friday.
Although, it now seems unlikely that Martinelli will play any part against Peru owing to injury.
Gabriel Martinelli underwent an MRI scan on injury suffered in Brazil training
According to reliable Brazilian outlet Globo, Martinelli began to complain about some pain during training on Sunday with the national team.
Subsequently, Martinelli underwent an MRI scan which showed a ‘small area of swelling’ on the winger’s calf.
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Martinelli is now considered a major doubt for the game with Peru, and therefore may even be compromised for Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth next weekend.
According to the report, Martinelli will undergo physiotherapy in order to try and play in Brazil’s second game – he hasn’t entirely given up hope just yet.
But either way, Martinelli is not being considered for Dorival Junior’s starting team, which will include Gabriel Magalhaes once again.
A frustrating set-back for the Arsenal winger who was just gaining so much positive momentum.
Although, judging by the report, it shouldn’t be an injury that has any long-term implications for Martinelli and Arsenal, even if it is frustrating in the interim.
Gabriel Magalhaes still being criticised whilst playing for Brazil
Keeping the focus on Arsenal’s Brazilian contingent, it seems as if Gabriel is suffering from some of the same issues that William Saliba has experienced with France.
Both centre-backs are among the best in the Premier League, and arguably are the most dominant pairing.
And yet, Brazilian media continue to pick fault in Gabriel when playing for the national team, this time not content with the ambition of his passing.
In fairness, Brazil are going through a tough period of their history, they’re nowhere near hitting the levels of some of the great sides in the past.
But there’s no doubt that Gabriel will be key in returning his national team to that kind of reckoning in the future.
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