Mikel Arteta has provided an update on the injury status of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli, confirming that both players will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. This means that Arsenal will have to navigate their final two Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest and Wolves without the services of these two individuals.
During the pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming away fixture against Nottingham, Arteta shared the news, stating, “They are both out for the rest of the season. Gabi [Martinelli] has sustained a significant injury, and we will need to assess in the coming week the expected duration of his absence. As for Alex [Zinchenko], he is dealing with a calf issue.”
Unfortunately, Martinelli’s injury dashes his hopes of surpassing Roberto Firmino’s record for the most goals scored by a Brazilian player in a Premier League campaign. Having equaled the 15-goal landmark set by Firmino in the 2017/2018 season, the young Arsenal winger will now be forced to watch from the sidelines for the remaining two matches after sustaining an ankle injury in the recent game against Brighton.
Martinelli fell victim to a robust tackle from Moises Caicedo, a player who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, leading to his early substitution. The extent of Martinelli’s injury is currently being evaluated, and further updates are expected in the following week. On the other hand, Zinchenko missed the Brighton match due to a calf injury sustained in the previous game against Newcastle United.
Reports suggest that Zinchenko’s injury is not severe, and the Ukrainian midfielder is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of pre-season preparations. Although the current season has come to an end for both Zinchenko and Martinelli, the focus now shifts to their recovery and ensuring they are in optimal condition for future campaigns.
