Arsenal not concerned after Brazil talks

October 15, 2024Ligue 1

Mikel Arteta and Gabriel Martinelli (Photos by Shaun Botterill, Julian Finney/Getty Images)

I can only imagine what Mikel Arteta was thinking when news filtered back to Arsenal that Gabriel Martinelli had followed Bukayo Saka by picking up an injury while on international duty.

It’s too early to say yet whether the calf problem Martinelli is suffering from will rule the Brazilian out of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth. My understanding is that – following conversations with the Brazilian team’s medical staff – there is not much concern at Arsenal over the severity of Martinelli’s issue.

It might still force him to miss Saturday’s game, but that is a decision that will be taken on Friday before the team makes the trip to the south coast following their final training session at London Colney.

Arsenal have not insisted that Martinelli returns to the UK early. They are comfortable with him remaining with Brazil and returning as scheduled with Gabriel Magalhaes following the match with Peru.

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring for Arsenal vs Leicester City (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Could Gabriel Martinelli injury keep him out of Arsenal’s game against Bournemouth?

So it’s too early to rule him out of contention for the weekend, but if he were to miss out then Arteta does have a fair few options to call upon, even if Saka is also absent.