Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained why Gabriel Martinelli missed Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.
The Brazilian attacker was a surprise exclusion from the matchday squad when the lineup was revealed an hour ahead of kickoff.
Martinelli, who has started 23 league games for the Gunners this season including the last six consecutively, was replaced by Leandro Trossard in the starting XI.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Arteta revealed that Martinelli was not available for selection due to a gashed foot.
“Gabby has not made it,” he said. “Unfortunately he has got a cut on his foot and we are trying to get him back.”
Update: Martinelli was spotted in mixed zone after the game “wearing a protective boot and walking with the aid of crutches,” Football.London report.
It is not yet known how long Martinelli will take to recover from his injury. The north London club will be hoping he will be fighting fit soon ahead of key games against Porto in the Champions League and title rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.
The Spaniard added: “This game is another opportunity to earn the right to win. Brentford perform really well against the big teams and are a really difficult side to beat.
“We have to play with the same energy and earn the right to win the game.”
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