Arsenal will face Bournemouth on Saturday evening, hoping to secure all three points as they make the trip down south. However, the absence of several key first-team players complicates their chances.
Martin Odegaard has been sidelined since sustaining ankle ligament damage during the Norway international break in September. Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, and Oleksandr Zinchenko could not join their national teams for the October fixtures.
In a further blow to the team’s morale, Bukayo Saka was forced to limp off during England’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley last Thursday. This has created a significant selection headache for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is now managing multiple injury concerns going into this crucial match.
Arsenal Forward Gabriel Martinelli: A Fresh Doubt
Martinelli with Brazil (Image credit: Getty Images)Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has emerged as a fresh doubt for the clash. After missing out on Brazil’s squad in September, Martinelli was brought back into the fold for October’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru. Although he didn’t start Brazil’s 2-1 victory over Chile, Martinelli was substituted in during the 85th minute. He made an impact right away, helping secure the win, but unfortunately, he sustained a knock to his right calf during this short appearance.
Following his injury, an MRI scan was conducted, leading to a statement from the Brazilian national team about the extent of his condition.
“Player Gabriel Martinelli complained of pain in his right calf and underwent an MRI on Sunday night, which showed a small area of muscle edema,” stated the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). “The athlete continues to undergo physiotherapy treatment under the care of the Brazilian national team’s medical department.”
This update suggests that Martinelli will not return to Arsenal until Thursday at the earliest, given Brazil’s upcoming match against Peru at 1.45 AM BST on Wednesday. Consequently, it may be challenging for him to be fit in time to face Bournemouth.
In Martinelli’s potential absence, Arsenal still has several viable options. Raheem Sterling could debut in the Premier League for Arsenal in his place, while Gabriel Jesus is also adept at playing on the left wing. Leandro Trossard is another alternative that Arteta may consider to fill the gap.
With these critical injuries, Arsenal’s depth will be tested as they aim to clinch an important win against Bournemouth.
Discover more from Marki Mugan
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
