Martinelli picked up an injury in his return to first-team
Martinelli who was sidelined because of an injury since March, was substituted in his first start in 9 months after a collision with Manchester City’s goalkeeper, Zack Steffen.
Gabriel Martinelli
shone during his debut season for
Arsenal
last season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, which earned him a new long-term contract. The 19-year-old striker played 19 minutes in the Gunners’ Saturday loss to
Everton
after he fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him out since March.
Starting Arsenal’s Carabao Cup’s clash against Manchester City, he provided the assist for Alexandre Lacazette’s goal but was substituted in 49
th
minute after he picked up an injury from a collision with Zack Steffen. The American goalkeeper came out of his line for a sliding clearance following Joe Willock’s through ball and caught the Brazilian's leg in the process.
Although he returned to continue the game,
Mikel Arteta
decided to substitute him with
Nicolas Pepe
as he was clearly playing with pain. Arsenal went to lose the match 4-1.
"It was just a really bad kick on his shin and it was swelling up, and he was in pain and came off,"
Arteta
said in his post-match conference.
The Spaniard also defended his decision to let Martinelli begin the second half.
"He was pushing, saying that he was completely fine, that he wanted to carry on and he wanted to try,"
Arteta said of the forward.
"He had a scar that wasn’t open and he wanted to try so we gave him the possibility to try. And when he was on the pitch he wasn’t comfortable so it was an easy decision to take him out."
The Gunners now have to wait for further information about Martinelli’s injury, who signed for Arsenal from Ituano on 2 July 2019.
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