MIKEL ARTETA has revealed that Arsenal’s medical staff were left “trembling” during the game over Gabriel Martinelli’s fitness.
The winger was a fitness doubt going into the game and was only fit enough to come on from the bench, replacing Leandro Trossard at half time.
But the Brazilian forward more than paid off the risk to play him, scoring the only goal of the game with a deflected strike in the 86th minute.
Arteta revealed after the game that his medical staff were not best pleased at the risk of playing Martinelli.
Arteta was asked how important it was to get Martinelli back in the team and said: “First of all he was great. And thank you because he’s made a huge effort to be in this game.
“Nobody believed that he was going to be available but he kept saying ‘I’m gonna be there.’
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“All the medical staff were trembling. But he was there and we needed him because Lenadro Trossard was injured after 30 minutes and he was excellent.”
Arteta was then asked if the win sent out a message that Manchester City weren’t going to waltz to the title and replied: “Well it certainly sends a message to our team that if we keep doing what we’re doing and stay humble and work hard then we’re a very difficult team to beat.”
Arsenal’s victory puts them joint top of the table going into the international break behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The two have the same number of points but Spurs have scored more goals under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou.
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Arsenal will be aided by the fact that Bukayo Saka and William Saliba have been able to pull out of their international team’s fixtures as they continue to nurse injuries.
Given tonight’s injury to Leandro Trossard, he too, might withdraw from the Belgium squad.
The Gunners will return to action when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 21.
They then take on Sevilla three days later at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
