Gabriel Martinelli Absence Raises Questions for Mikel Arteta’s Lineup
Arsenal is set to kick off their Champions League campaign with a much-anticipated clash against PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium, and hints from the club’s social media team have raised intrigue surrounding the team news.
The Gunners’ return to Europe’s elite competition for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign is met with eager anticipation, as they seek their first win in the tournament since defeating Basel in the group phase nearly seven years ago.
Manager Mikel Arteta faces the challenge of selecting a formidable squad capable of securing victory against PSV, all while keeping one eye on the North London Derby looming this weekend, where they will face Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Arsenal’s task has been made more challenging due to the absence of winger Gabriel Martinelli in tonight’s clash. Martinelli sustained a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 1-0 win against Everton on Sunday, leaving fans and the team concerned about the extent of his absence.
Arteta addressed Martinelli’s condition in his press conference on Tuesday, stating, “Yeah, he [Martinelli] felt something in his hamstring. We need to do some further tests to see if there’s some big damage or not, but he will be out for tomorrow’s game, that’s for sure.”
When asked about Martinelli’s potential return for the North London Derby against Spurs, Arteta remained uncertain, saying, “It’s a possibility we don’t know yet – as I said we need some more tests and then see what happens.”
Martinelli’s absence opens up opportunities for other players, and Leandro Trossard, who replaced the Brazilian and scored the decisive goal in the Everton match, could be poised for a starting role against PSV. Trossard is expected to fill the void on the left side of Arsenal’s attack, especially with Emile Smith Rowe yet to feature in the Premier League for the Gunners this season. Arsenal fans eagerly await the official lineup announcement to see how Arteta plans to navigate this crucial Champions League fixture
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