ARSENAL are hopeful Gabriel Martinelli will be fit for their Premier League title showdown with Manchester City this month – despite withdrawing from the Brazil national team.
The Gunners winger was taken off in the 64th minute during their 6-0 win away at Sheffield United last week after suffering a cut to his foot.
He was helped off the pitch in considerable pain, and was then spotted last weekend using crutches while watching his team-mates beat Brentford 2-1 at the Emirates.
It is understood he will not be available for tonight’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Porto having sat out of first-team training.
His absence from representing his country during the upcoming international break was also confirmed last night as Brazil announced their updated 26-man squad.
The decision for Martinelli to miss clashes with England and Spain on March 23 and March 26 respectively was likely made after recent club and country discussions.
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However, Martinelli remains in contention to be back fit for Mikel Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s mammoth trip to the Etihad on March 31 – one that could decide the title.
Arteta is helped by the fact his table-topping side do not have a game until their trip to Manchester, giving his squad plenty of time to be fit and fresh for their final 10 Prem outings.
Martinelli’s form has picked up since the turn of the year, and now has eight goals and six assists in all competitions this campaign.
Man City have issues of their own, with keeper Ederson also pulling out of the Brazil squad with a thigh injury that could sideline him for up to four weeks.
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The City No.1 was forced off during the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday – and is now a major doubt to face Arteta’s Arsenal at the end of the month.
Elsewhere for Arsenal, Oleksandr Zinchenko [calf] is back to full fitness, while Takehiro Tomiyasu [also calf] could make the squad to face Porto tonight after returning to full training.
Should that be the case, Arteta will have practically a fully fit squad to tackle the end of the season with, leaving just Jurrien Timber as he nears the end of his recovery from ACL surgery.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
