Gabriel Martinelli has sent a clear message following reports a hamstring injury will keep him out of action until March at the earliest. The Brazilian went down clutching the back of his leg during the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle with Ethan Nwaneri swiftly coming on in his place.
“Yes, he felt something,” Mikel Arteta said on Martinelli in his press conference after the game. “I think it was his hamstring and he wasn’t comfortable to continue so we’ll have to do an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.” The Athletic then revealed a few days later that he faces more than a month out of action due to injury.
Mikel Arteta had already lost Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka to long-term injuries this season and the blow for Martinelli means he will have just three fit senior attackers at his disposal. While Nwaneri is certainly part of his first-team plans, the Hale End graduate is still only 17.
Despite the fact the club were firmly aware of the challenges Arteta was facing in attack, no new signings were brought in during the January transfer window. Attempts were made to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins but that deal was not sanctioned while interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel never really went beyond that.
