Major Injury Blow For Arsenal As Gabriel Martinelli Faces Spell On Sidelines

Arsenal has been hit with unfortunate news as Gabriel Martinelli is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

Reports indicate that Gabriel Martinelli will be unavailable for Arsenal’s final two Premier League fixtures. The young winger fell victim to a harsh tackle from Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo during Arsenal’s disappointing 3-0 defeat against the Seagulls on Sunday.

An assessment of the injury has revealed that Martinelli has sustained an ankle problem. Fortunately, the injury is not believed to be severe, and the player could make a full recovery in a matter of weeks.

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Caicedo’s challenge on Martinelli occurred midway through the first half of the match, seemingly in retaliation for a previous clash between the Brazilian and Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.

In that incident, Martinelli unintentionally made contact with Mitoma’s face with his elbow as they both contested a high ball.

As a result of Caicedo’s tackle, the 21-year-old had to be substituted and was later seen wearing a protective boot. Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged that the youngster was experiencing discomfort while walking.

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According to reliable sources at The Athletic, Martinelli is set to sit out Arsenal’s final two games of the season, dealing a significant blow to Arteta’s plans.

The Gunners will face Nottingham Forest on Saturday before hosting Wolves on May 28. Although Arsenal’s chances of securing a surprise Premier League title have been all but extinguished by the recent loss to Brighton, Martinelli’s absence will be keenly felt.

While Martinelli’s injury is not deemed serious, it means that he will not feature in any further matches this season. However, the talented winger is expected to regain full fitness in time for the start of pre-season training in early July.

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Martinelli has played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s unexpected title challenge this season, featuring in all 36 Premier League games and scoring an impressive 15 goals.

He has also provided five assists, showcasing his impact under Arteta’s guidance.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, Martinelli’s name joins a growing list of injured players at the Emirates Stadium.

The team has struggled in recent months, and the absence of key individuals has hindered their quest to secure the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.

Defender William Saliba, who made a strong impression earlier in the campaign, has been sidelined since sustaining a back injury against Sporting Lisbon in March. It is anticipated that Saliba will also miss the remainder of the season.

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However, there may be a glimmer of hope for Arsenal as left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko could potentially make a return for the team’s final two games.

Initially ruled out for the rest of the campaign due to a calf problem, Zinchenko has resumed training after failing a fitness test ahead of the Brighton match.

Arsenal will be hoping to finish the season on a positive note despite the setbacks, and the absence of Gabriel Martinelli will undoubtedly be felt.

The young winger has proven to be a valuable asset, and his absence will require other players to step up and fill the void.